BREAKING: Former All-Star’s Jaw-Dropping Yankees Ultimatum: ‘I’ll Shave My Beard TODAY!’ — But Wait Until You Hear His Wife’s Reaction!

**Whit Merrifield Jokes About Joining Yankees: “My Wife Would Love If I Shaved!”**

Free agent infielder Whit Merrifield is open to a bold change for a shot with the New York Yankees: ditching his signature beard. Known for their strict clean-shaven policy, the Yankees could force Merrifield—a three-time All-Star with the Royals, Blue Jays, Braves, and Phillies—to lose the facial hair if they sign him. “My wife would love for me to shave every day,” Merrifield quipped on *Foul Territory*. With New York in need of a second baseman, his name has surfaced as a potential fit.

The Yankees are scrambling to reload after a heartbreaking 2024 season that saw them fall short in the World Series against the Dodgers and lose Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets. Soto’s departure left a gaping hole in an offense that thrived on his chemistry with Aaron Judge, who smashed a historic number of homers last year. To counter the loss, New York splurged on stars like Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt, but replicating Soto’s 100+ RBI production won’t be easy.

Meanwhile, the AL East rivals aren’t sitting idle. The Red Sox bolstered their rotation with Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, while the Blue Jays added power hitter Anthony Santander. For Yankees fans, the pressure is mounting: the team hasn’t clinched a World Series title since 2009. Will Merrifield’s beard-free bat help break the curse? Stay tuned.