If Your Birthday is January 24th...

...you share it with Whit Merrifield.  The three-time AL stolen base champ seemingly fell off the table in 2024.  After signing with the Phillies, who expected him to be their "Swiss Army Knife," he played more like a bent fork -- hitting under .200 in 53 games, and adding little of the spark he showed in previous seasons with the Blue Jays and Royals.  Released mid-season, he signed with the Braves, but wasn't much of a difference-maker there, either.  With camps opening in less than a month, he's still unsigned.

 

Scott Kazmir, a first round draft pick by the Mets, never pitched for New York.  Instead, while still apprenticing in the minors, he was sent to the Cubs in a forgettable deadline deal for Victor Zambrano, who won just 10 games over parts of three seasons for the Mets.  Kazmir did his best work for the Rays, winning 10 or more games four times during the '00s.  He later bounced through several other organizations, finishing with a 108-97 career record and making three All Star teams.

Kazmir and Merrifield rank 2nd and 3rd alltime in WAR for players born January 24th. The leader is Jose Quintana, whom I've never snapped in action.  After a 10-10 season with the Mets in 2024 -- that lifted him above the 100-career victory mark -- he remains a free agent.

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