The Indians are optioning outfielder Oscar Mercado, per various reporters (including Zack Meisel of the Athletic). That’s a bit of a surprise, since Mercado had been a candidate to take on a role in Cleveland’s uncertain outfield mix.
After a productive rookie showing in 2019, Mercado opened the 2020 season as the Indians’ center fielder. The speedster fell flat, though, hitting just .128/.174/.174 with a single home run over 93 plate appearances. Those struggles got Mercado sent to the alternate training site in mid-August; Bradley Zimmer and the since-departed Delino DeShields Jr. and Greg Allen garnered playing time at the position down the stretch.
Today’s Mercado demotion seems to pave the way for Zimmer to pick up the bulk of the playing time in center in the season’s early going. The 28-year-old Zimmer has just a .224/.300/.349 line in 510 MLB plate appearances. Shortstop Amed Rosario has also gotten some work in the grass in Spring Training and seems likely to get reps in center in the regular season. Prospect Daniel Johnson could be an option at some point, but he was also optioned out earlier this week. Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Josh Naylor, Harold Ramírez, Franmil Reyes and Eddie Rosario are all on the 40-man roster, but everyone in that group fits better in the corner outfield.
In other Indians’ news, Rule 5 draftee Trevor Stephan will make the Opening Day roster, Mandy Bell of MLB.com was among those to note. The 25-year-old righty was selected out of the Yankees’ organization. He’ll need to stick on the active roster (or on the MLB injured list) all season or else be placed on waivers, then offered back to New York.
not terribly surprising. he wasnt hitting well and looked awful last year.
Most folks looked bad last year, not a litmus test. Braves, give this guy a shot, 15 hrs. a year ago & good defense. I can’t believe Cleveland dumped this guy!
I am pretty sure Mercado is just being demoted. He likely has options remaining.
He has a minor league option left. Unless the Braves are trading for him, he’s not on the open market.
True my baseball brothers, I enjoyed watching Mercado & I jumped to conclusions. when I saw his demotion. I do feel he is a starter wherever he ends up & since I live in Alabama now, hoping for Atlanta.
Thoughts on Eddie Rosario’s spring struggles anyone?
the bar for getting a full time spot in the outfield is pretty low in cleveland, unfortunately. add that, I think, he’s the 2nd highest paid player on the team, and I expect they’ll roll with it. I saw a graph of his batting average over time, and he’s a very streaky hitter. hopefully he gets hot at the start of the season, since the Tribe is consistently a slow starting team.
ST stats don’t matter for established players. I know some people hate him and they say he’s bad but he’s a fine player for 8 mil. 30 bombs a year and has a decent arm.
Yep
Surprised Daniel Johnson got optioned. Thought he could have been an option in CF.
Agreed. He’s been their best outfielder all spring. Francona always plays this crap with someone every spring.
I don’t think they see him as a CF. If you think about all his starts this ST and the CF debacle last year, he didn’t get a sniff. I think they may think he can’t handle it. If they truly thought he could play there they wouldn’t have given him a few opportunities?
They’ve already announced that Johnson will be getting reps at all three outfield positions. They also said he’s more than capable of playing CF….which makes the decision to send him down even more baffling.
Most likely it’s because they’re committed to getting reps for Rosario.
Johnson can play every day in the minors. No use sitting 4-5 days a week in the majors.
Those OF’s will be moved around until a few can show they belong out there most every day (Luplow is in as a platoon guy).
Think Amad Rosario will spend the most time as a CF’er as the season progresses – unless he gets traded to a team that is dumb enough to put him at SS. Once he settles in he’ll hit better than any of the Indians possibilities. Weak mentally, but Francona pulls guys through that.
I did not understand the fascination with Mercado, nor the current fascination with Zimmer. The league caught up to both of them. Neither has made the necessary adjustments.
Even Greg Allen starts to look like a viable centerfielder next to the Tribe’s options.
It’s pretty impressive that the tribe always seems to contend since they always seem to have a lot of guys who can’t hit. Francona is a great manager though.
Best in MLB.
I remember being a big Zimmer fan. I really felt he would be in a much better spot in his career.
Both zimmer brothers look like busts, injuries an issue
Time to trade Ed Taubensee & Willie Blair for a centerfielder.
also bring back Naquin
Always liked Naquin, sad to see Cleveland let him go also.
I really think this is gonna be a make or break season for Zimmer. Cleveland might not have the best outfielders, but if Mercado and/or Johnson play good and Zimmer does not, I think Zimmer will be gone
Agree. With all the injuries they have been very patient with him. He plays a good center field and will never hit for average but can have some pop towards the end of the lineup. The fact that they gave Gamel a start in center probably means they will have him start as their 4th outfielder until Amed Rosario feels more comfortable. Mercado, even in ST, didn’t look comfortable at all while at the plate.
I’m thinking Gamel has a shot for CF, not Zimmer.
Glad to see Stephan is making the team. He’s been one of their best pen guys all spring. Seems to have great poise on the mound, and has really good stuff.
Agreed, I’ve been impressed with him. I thought he had a decent chance to make it if he looked good this spring since he’s a Rule 5 guy, but they’ve rarely gone the Rule 5 route and they don’t usually seem committed to prospects that aren’t starting pitchers, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect.
I agree.. with him., Clase, and Karinchak.. our bullpen has a chance to be very scary
The Indians and Royals have the 2 most underrated bullpens in MLB, and should both be in the top 6 or 7.
Karinchak K’ed almost 2 guys an inning in 2019-20. Very few in the media have any idea.
So what’s the new name going to be, the Cleveland Democrats or the Cleveland Republicans? I’m sick of all the PC BS!
Rumor inside the organization says Captains to reflect the significance of the lake and not to offend.
The Cleveland Captains? It doesn’t offend but it’s boring.
I know. Their low A team already has that name. Natural transition.
They got bumped up to high-A with the minor league realignment. As for names, since they insist on changing, I’d rather see something like Coyotes or Sparrows. Both are plentiful in NE Ohio.
Captains is already the name of their High-A affiliate, Lake County.
I would imagine the Spiders or Rockers
I suggested a couple different options above. Coyotes or Sparrows.
Midges
They should wear special uniforms with that name when the Stankees come to town.
They’re having a problem naming the team because nearly all the possible names have been TM.
Yeah.. that’s going be an issue, though they could buy the TM which could be done…That will take time but I do expect an announcement this season and for it to be implemented in 2022.. We know it will totally different that what it is now to get away from anything at all cultural.
As much as I prefer Spiders, that was the worst era in Cleveland baseball history. The team already alluded that they did not want to return to that imagery.
When? there has never been any talks about saying that ever. They have mentioned about something honoring the history of Cleveland baseball and not going with anything tribal or that could be derived as offensive but never any mention about the spiders history or name.. I’m not saying they will use that name but there hasn’t been a single article on not using it.
The team is purposely quiet because of the trademark issues. I’m fortunate enough to know several team employees. As I stated earlier, Captains is the office rumor.
I don’t think unless it’s a FO employee or owner, no one knows, so knowing the janitor is not really a thing as seen from your previous statement saying they won’t go back to spiders which has never been said.
The Spiders were pretty strong until the owners bought the St Louis Browns and moved all the best players to STL and renamed them the Perfectos. SP Cy Young, Nig Cuppy, Jack Powell, Zeke Wilson, C Chief Zimmer, 1B Patsy Tebeau, 2B Cupid Child’s, 3B Bobby Wallace, SS Ed McKean, LF Jesse Burkett, CF Jimmy McAleer, RF Harry Blake/Platoon.
You are an angry person.
Curly…you’re a joke
Put Naylor in CF. That guy couldn’t catch the clap in a brothel.
How about the Cleveland Cooties? If you don’t like them, they already rub you the wrong way. If you like them it’s not offensive, but cute. Oh what a sad world we live in.
Curly…you’re still a joke
Hearing strong rumor of the Cleveland Clan , which is a synonym for Tribe. It makes for a nice blend into their parent block C logo
Plesac for Senzel…
Not a chance, Tony.