Indians tell OF Hamilton he won't make roster, seeking trade
Outfielder Billy Hamilton won’t make Cleveland’s roster and the Indians are trying to find him another team this springMARCH 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
ÓSCAR MERCADO RIGHT FIELDER - NO TEAM
RIGHT FIELDER - NO TEAM
Pacing center fielders in at-bats Mercado is competing with Bradley Zimmer for Cleveland's starting center field job, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Impact Zimmer has the statistical edge early in camp (he's hitting .500 to Mercado's .250), but Mercado has had 16 at-bats while Zimmer has had 10, so it appears to be his job to lose. Both players have a minor-league option remaining, so the club could conceivably play the hot hand all year.
MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
How to stand out in crowded OF? Hit 2 HRs SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Indians have Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer, Jordan Luplow (who’s still battling an ankle sprain), Josh Naylor, Eddie...
MARCH 10, 2021 • MLB.COM
Ben Gamel, Indians agree to minor deal, adds to outfield mix
The Cleveland Indians will give free agent Ben Gamel a shot to win one of their open outfield jobsFEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Homers in loss Mercado went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.
Impact Mercado tied things up 2-2 with a solo blast off Jon Lester in the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the Indians came up short in extra innings. It was the first home run of the season for the 25-year-old, who's batting a dismal .152/.208/.212 across 28 games.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Báez single gives Cubs 4th straight win, 3-2 over Indians
Javier Báez’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Chicago Cubs to their fourth straight win, 3-2 over the Cleveland IndiansSEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dodgers beat Padres, become 1st to clinch postseason berth
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oscar Mercado deals with failure, then conquers Josh Hader “As the failures continue, you start to press and press and you forget about the process and the things that really allowed you to succeed."
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Indians end Hader’s hitless streak, beat Brewers 4-3
Milwaukee closer Josh Hader allowed his first hit of the season, and then gave up César Hernández’s game-winning single in the ninth inning of the Cleveland Indians' 4-3 victory ov...SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trout hits 300th homer, Angels rally to take 2 from Astros
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mercado optioned to Tribe's alternate site Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado made quite the first impression during a solid rookie season, but after his slow offensive start to his sop...
AUGUST 17, 2020 • MLB.COM
Optioned off roster Mercado was optioned to Cleveland's alternate training site Monday.
Impact Mercado generated a fair amount of hype during draft season after hitting 15 homers and stealing 15 bases in 115 games as a rookie last season, though he was always going to need to perform to maintain consistent playing time in a crowded Cleveland outfield. He's done the opposite of perform, however, hitting .111/.167/.111 in 48 plate appearances, causing his playing time to dwindle and now evaporate completely. He could still play a role later this season if he sorts things out at the team's secondary training site, but it's hard to be too confident in him at this point.
AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Playing time falls by wayside Mercado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Impact Mercado's slow start at the plate to begin the season had already begun to result in him fading into a reserve role last week, and his situation has taken a turn for the worse since Tyler Naquin (toe) returned from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Mercado will be on the bench for the sixth time in seven games, as Domingo Santana, Naquin and Delino DeShields form the Tribe's outfield.
AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Tuesday Mercado isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs.
Impact Mercado will take a seat in his third consecutive game in the series opener against the Cubs as he seems to be losing his grasp on a regular role in the Cleveland outfield. Delino DeShields is taking over in center field Tuesday.
AUGUST 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Sitting in second straight Mercado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Impact Off to a 5-for-41 start to the season while striking out in 30.2 percent of his plate appearances, Mercado's hold on a full-time role could be slipping. He'll now be on the bench for the second straight game while the Indians run out an outfield of Mike Freeman, Bradley Zimmer and Domingo Santana.
AUGUST 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Retreats to bench Mercado isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox.
Impact Mercado had started in the past six contests, but he'll take a seat for the second game of the series against the White Sox. Delino DeShields will take over in center field and bat ninth.
AUGUST 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Votto's homer lifts Reds over Indians 3-2; still no Francona
Joey Votto hit a two-run, go-ahead homer, Nick Castellanos also connected and the Cincinnati Reds beat Cleveland 3-2 Monday night as the Indians played again without ill manager Te...AUGUST 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Benches clear in testy rematch as Dodgers beat Astros 5-2
JULY 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mercado's great grab helps Tribe sweep DH The Indians had gone nine months since they last took the field in a regular-season game due to the coronavirus shutdown. With the extended...
JULY 29, 2020 • MLB.COM
Santana homers as Indians complete sweep, 5-3 over White Sox
Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer and Oscar Mercado had a two-run single as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 to complete a doubleheader sweepJULY 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Optioned after matinee Johnson was optioned to the alternate training site after Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill against the White Sox, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Impact The 25-year-old received the start in right field and went 1-for-2 -- recording his first big-league hit -- before being pinch hit for by Oscar Mercado. Johnson could rejoin the big-league club later in the season, but for now he'll try to stay fresh at the alternate site.
JULY 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Sits for afternoon game Mercado is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Impact It's not particularly surprising that Mercado won't start both halves of the doubleheader, but it's perhaps a concern in terms of his expected share of the playing time in Cleveland this season that he's now been on the bench for two of the team's first four games. Bradley Zimmer again gets the nod in center field.
JULY 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Olson's grand slam in 10th sends Athletics past Angels 7-3
JULY 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dealing ace: Bieber strikes out 14 as Indians win opener 2-0
Shane Bieber dominated Kansas City's hitters, striking out 14 in six innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Royals 2-0 in their delayed home openerJULY 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
