Headlines

  • Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila
  • Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture
  • Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates
  • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition
  • Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand
  • Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Indians Option Oscar Mercado

By Anthony Franco | March 21, 2021 at 12:02pm CDT

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.

Share 0 Retweet 6 Send via email0

Cleveland Guardians Bradley Zimmer Oscar Mercado Trevor Stephan

This Date In Transactions History: Tim Anderson Extension
Main
Pirates Sign Steven Wright
View Comments (54)

Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    not terribly surprising. he wasnt hitting well and looked awful last year.

    Reply
    • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

      1 year ago

      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!

      Reply
      • paddyo875

        1 year ago

        I am pretty sure Mercado is just being demoted. He likely has options remaining.

        Reply
      • mlb1225

        1 year ago

        He has a minor league option left. Unless the Braves are trading for him, he’s not on the open market.

        Reply
        • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

          1 year ago

          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.

  2. Cambio

    1 year ago

    Thoughts on Eddie Rosario’s spring struggles anyone?

    Reply
    • Gtfdrussell

      1 year ago

      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.

      Reply
    • Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)

      1 year ago

      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.

      Reply
      • dixoncayne

        1 year ago

        Yep

        Reply
  3. walls17

    1 year ago

    Surprised Daniel Johnson got optioned. Thought he could have been an option in CF.

    Reply
    • sufferfortribe

      1 year ago

      Agreed. He’s been their best outfielder all spring. Francona always plays this crap with someone every spring.

      Reply
    • debubba

      1 year ago

      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?

      Reply
      • sufferfortribe

        1 year ago

        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.

        Reply
        • Samuel

          1 year ago

          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.

  4. ClevelandSpidersFromMars

    1 year ago

    Even Greg Allen starts to look like a viable centerfielder next to the Tribe’s options.

    Reply
  5. CalcetinesBlancos

    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
    • Samuel

      1 year ago

      Best in MLB.

      Reply
  6. 13Morgs13

    1 year ago

    I remember being a big Zimmer fan. I really felt he would be in a much better spot in his career.

    Reply
    • Asfan0780

      1 year ago

      Both zimmer brothers look like busts, injuries an issue

      Reply
  7. ClevelandSpidersFromMars

    1 year ago

    Time to trade Ed Taubensee & Willie Blair for a centerfielder.

    Reply
  8. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    also bring back Naquin

    Reply
    • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

      1 year ago

      Always liked Naquin, sad to see Cleveland let him go also.

      Reply
  9. lucas0622

    1 year ago

    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

    Reply
    • debubba

      1 year ago

      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.

      Reply
  10. sufferfortribe

    1 year ago

    I’m thinking Gamel has a shot for CF, not Zimmer.

    Reply
  11. sufferfortribe

    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      1 year ago

      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.

      Reply
    • SpidersBaseball

      1 year ago

      I agree.. with him., Clase, and Karinchak.. our bullpen has a chance to be very scary

      Reply
      • Samuel

        1 year ago

        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.

        Reply
  12. Curly Was The Smart Stooge

    1 year ago

    So what’s the new name going to be, the Cleveland Democrats or the Cleveland Republicans? I’m sick of all the PC BS!

    Reply
    • Lofton4daHOF

      1 year ago

      Rumor inside the organization says Captains to reflect the significance of the lake and not to offend.

      Reply
      • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

        1 year ago

        The Cleveland Captains? It doesn’t offend but it’s boring.

        Reply
        • Lofton4daHOF

          1 year ago

          I know. Their low A team already has that name. Natural transition.

        • sufferfortribe

          1 year ago

          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.

      • sufferfortribe

        1 year ago

        Captains is already the name of their High-A affiliate, Lake County.

        Reply
    • SpidersBaseball

      1 year ago

      I would imagine the Spiders or Rockers

      Reply
      • sufferfortribe

        1 year ago

        I suggested a couple different options above. Coyotes or Sparrows.

        Reply
        • GarryHarris

          1 year ago

          Midges

        • sufferfortribe

          1 year ago

          They should wear special uniforms with that name when the Stankees come to town.

    • GarryHarris

      1 year ago

      They’re having a problem naming the team because nearly all the possible names have been TM.

      Reply
      • SpidersBaseball

        1 year ago

        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.

        Reply
        • Lofton4daHOF

          1 year ago

          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.

        • SpidersBaseball

          1 year ago

          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.

        • Lofton4daHOF

          1 year ago

          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.

        • SpidersBaseball

          1 year ago

          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.

        • GarryHarris

          1 year ago

          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.

        • Lofton4daHOF

          1 year ago

          You are an angry person.

    • miggy4prez

      1 year ago

      Curly…you’re a joke

      Reply
  13. crosleyred

    1 year ago

    Put Naylor in CF. That guy couldn’t catch the clap in a brothel.

    Reply
  14. Curly Was The Smart Stooge

    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
    • miggy4prez

      1 year ago

      Curly…you’re still a joke

      Reply
  15. OIC2021

    1 year ago

    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

    Reply
  16. tonyinsingapore

    1 year ago

    Plesac for Senzel…

    Reply
    • hockeyjohn

      1 year ago

      Not a chance, Tony.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila

    Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture

    Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates

    2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition

    Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand

    Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock

    Chris Sale Fractures Wrist, Will Miss Remainder Of Season

    Cubs To Release Jason Heyward At End Of Season

    Cubs Claim Franmil Reyes From Guardians

    Fernando Tatis Jr. To Begin Rehab Assignment

    Rockies Claim Dinelson Lamet, Designate Ashton Goudeau

    Cubs Release Andrelton Simmons

    Alex Kirilloff To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

    Guardians Designate Franmil Reyes For Assignment

    Justin Verlander Reaches 130 Innings Pitched, Vests 2023 Player Option

    Red Sox Release Jackie Bradley Jr.

    Phillies Release Didi Gregorius

    Vin Scully Passes Away

    Padres Acquire Juan Soto, Josh Bell; C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Luke Voit Among Six Players Back To Nationals

    Braves To Acquire Raisel Iglesias

    Recent

    Braves Place Max Fried On Concussion-Related Injured List

    Minor MLB Transactions: Jackson, Sharp

    Nationals Outright Donovan Casey

    Mariners Reinstate Julio Rodriguez, Designate Luis Torrens

    Rockies To Select Wynton Bernard

    Previewing Upcoming Club Option Decisions: National League

    Injury Notes: Harper, Schwarber, Daza, Harris, Canterino

    Mets Reinstate Dominic Smith From 10-Day IL, Option Him To Triple-A

    Active MLB Players Who Have Received A Qualifying Offer

    A’s Release Jed Lowrie

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Cubs Decline To Trade Contreras, Happ
    • Giants Keep Rodon, Pederson
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version