AUGUST 15 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
ÓSCAR MERCADO
Phillies re-sign former Cardinals outfielder to deal | Sporting News Oscar Mercado was released by Philadelphia just 10 days ago.
Joins Philly as NRI Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.
Impact The 30-year-old spent last season at the Triple-A level with the Tigers and Padres organizations, and he had a .222/.308/.405 slash line with 12 homers and 16 steals in 93 total games. Mercado posted a .761 OPS as a rookie with Cleveland in 2019, but he has a .596 OPS in 183 big-league games since that debut campaign.
FEBRUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Inks minors deal with Detroit Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Impact Mercado has yet to appear in the majors this season, though he slashed .226/.307/.425 with 11 homers and 42 RBI across 307 plate appearances with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate. He'll presumably report to Triple-A Toledo upon joining the Tigers organization, where he'll serve as organizational depth in the outfield.
AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Cut loose by Friars The Padres released Mercado on Thursday.
Impact Mercado lost his spot on Triple-A El Paso's roster after the affiliate needed to clear room for outfielder Brandon Lockridge, whom the Padres acquired in a trade with the Yankees on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Mercado played in 20 games at the big-league level with St. Louis in 2023 but never received a call-up to San Diego after slashing .226/.307/.425 with 11 home runs and 12 stolen bases across his 307 plate appearances with El Paso.
AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Joins Padres on minor-league deal Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Dec. 28.
Impact Mercado played in 20 big-league games with the Cardinals last season, racking up nine hits and five RBI in 32 trips to the plate. Down in Triple-A, he slashed .298/.366/.521 with 14 homers and 62 RBI between three different organizations. The Padres have limited outfield depth on their current big-league roster, so Mercado may have a decent chance at playing in San Diego this season as a bench piece.
JANUARY 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Signs minors deal with LAD Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Saturday.
Impact Mercado opted out of his deal with the Padres on Monday and will now join their division rival in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .307/.378/.542 across 283 plate appearances in Triple-A this season, and he could become a depth option for the Dodgers once rosters expand in September.
AUGUST 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Opts out of minors deal Mercado was released by the Padres on Monday.
Impact Mercado put up a 1.068 OPS with 10 homers and 10 steals in 31 games with Triple-A El Paso after signing a minor-league deal in July. He didn't see an imminent opportunity with the big-league club, though, so he's exercised an opt-out and will look for a gig elsewhere.
AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Minors: Tirso Ornelas, Oscar Mercado both homer twice Tirso Ornelas homers twice for San Antonio, Oscar Mercado homers twice for El Paso
AUGUST 14, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Catches on with Friars Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Friday.
Impact Mercado was assigned to Triple-A El Paso and appeared in three games for the club over the weekend, going 2-for-14 with a walk, two runs and three RBI. The 28-year-old could end up getting the call to San Diego later on in the season if the Padres are in need of an extra outfielder, but Mercado likely wouldn't be in line for enough playing time to attain fantasy relevance.
JULY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Elects free agency Mercado cleared waivers and elected free agency Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Mercado lost his spot on the Cardinals' 40-man roster earlier this week and now will be on the lookout for a new home. The 28-year-old is a career .237/.289/.388 hitter over parts of five major-league seasons.
JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Designated for assignment Mercado was designated for assignment Monday.
Impact Mercado played a good amount initially upon his promotion in mid-May, but he had received just one start and four plate appearances since the start of June. He'll now go through the waiver process.
JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Losing work to Burleson, Donovan Mercado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Impact After getting steady run in the St. Louis lineup following his promotion from Triple-A Memphis on May 17, Mercado seems to have settled back into a fourth-outfielder role while Dylan Carlson (ankle) and Tyler O'Neill (back) are on the shelf. Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan will both pick up starts at the two corner-outfield spots for the third game in a row against a right-handed starting pitcher while Mercado remains on the bench. Mercado should still have a path to playing time versus left-handed pitching, however.
MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Starts again Thursday Mercado will start in right field and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Reds.
Impact Mercado will stick in the lineup for the fourth time in five games, with the 28-year-old picking up three starts in right and one in center field during that stretch. While the Cardinals are without the services of both Tyler O'Neill (back) and Dylan Carlson (ankle), Mercado looks as though he could have a fairly clear path to steady at-bats, especially if he continues to thrive at the plate. Since his May 17 call-up from Triple-A Memphis, Mercado is slashing .450/.450/.600 with a pair of stolen bases over 20 plate appearances.
MAY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Drives in five in win Mercado went 3-for-4 with a double and five RBI in Sunday's 10-5 win over the Dodgers.
Impact Mercado was responsible for plating half of the Cardinals' runs, as each of his three hits brought at least one run home. This is his second three-hit effort in five games since he was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. He's started three of those contests, including once against a right-handed pitcher. It's unclear how the Cardinals plan to deploy their outfielders going forward, but Mercado's hot start to his major-league campaign should continue to earn him looks.
MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Gets another start for STL Mercado is starting in right field and batting ninth Friday against the Dodgers.
Impact This marks back-to-back starts for Mercado -- the first was against a left-hander and Friday's nod will come with right-hander Tony Gonsolin on the mound. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol is riding the hot hand after Mercado recorded three hits and two steals in Thursday's blowout win over Los Angeles. The 28-year-old may have a path toward regular at-bats with both Tyler O'Neill (back) and Dylan Carlson (ankle) on the injured list.
MAY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Shows speed in win Mercado went 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and three runs scored in Thursday's 16-8 win over the Dodgers.
Impact Mercado was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday to bolster the Cardinals' suddenly thin outfield depth. He was in the starting lineup a day later and made an impact with his legs. He stole home as part of a double steal with Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning. Mercado hasn't been much of a consistent hitter in the majors, but he's got decent speed. With Dylan Carlson (ankle) and Tyler O'Neill (back) on the injured list, Mercado should see some time in a corner-outfield role in the near term, though he's likely to see most of his starts versus southpaws.
MAY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Starts in left field Thursday Mercado is starting in left field and batting ninth for the Cardinals in Thursday's game against the Dodgers.
Impact Alec Burleson will sit with left-hander Julio Urias on the mound for Los Angeles. Mercado was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday when Dylan Carlson (ankle) landed on the IL and could continue to get starts against lefties in a short-side platoon.
MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Contract selected by STL St. Louis selected Mercado's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Impact Mercado will get his first close-up in a Cardinals uniform, nearly 10 years after being drafted by the organization. He possesses decent speed -- as he showed at times with Cleveland -- but the overall fantasy upside is lacking. The 28-year-old outfielder has slashed just .200/.258/.330 in his last 459 major-league plate appearances dating back to the beginning of the 2020 season.
MAY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Added to roster The Cardinals selected Mercado's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact Mercado will give the Cards another outfielder capable of handling center field while Dylan Carlson (ankle) is sidelined. The 28-year-old has batted .278/.361/.421 with two home runs and 15 stolen bases with Memphis this season and last appeared in the majors in 2022.
MAY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Signs with Cardinals The Cardinals signed Mercado to a minor-league contract Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Impact Mercado will return the the Cardinals organization, who he was drafted by in 2013, joining the team's minor league system Friday. The outfielder spent time with the Guardians and Phillies in 2022, producing a disappointing .207 average with four homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs and two stolen bases over 121 at-bats over 55 games.
NOVEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Guardians expect rowdy Bronx fans for Yanks playoff matchup
Cleveland's AL Division Series opener on Tuesday night will be its first game at Yankee Stadium since an ugly April series when rowdy fans in the bleachers pelted Guardians outfiel...OCTOBER 10, 2022 • Associated Press
Guardians place Aaron Civale on IL with sprained right wrist
Cleveland Guardians starter Aaron Civale has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right wrist after pitching just one inning in Wednesday night’s loss to the Chic...JULY 14, 2022 • Associated Press
Returns to Triple-A Mercado cleared waivers Thursday and will report to Triple-A Columbus, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Impact Mercado was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Monday, but this time around he went unclaimed and will report to Columbus. The 27-year-old has struggled to a .207 batting average with four homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs and two stolen bases over 121 at-bats in 55 games with the Guardians and Phillies this season.
JULY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Loses 40-man spot The Guardians designated Mercado for assignment Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Impact For the second time in less than a month, Cleveland will move Mercado off its 40-man roster. The transaction clears a spot for Alex Call, who will replace Mercado as a right-handed-hitting option in the outfield. During his latest stint with Cleveland, Mercado appeared in five games and went 2-for-6 with a pair of walks.
JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
