The Cardinals announced Wednesday that outfielder Oscar Mercado, who was designated for assignment last week, has cleared outright waivers and elected free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment. He’s now free to sign with any club.
Mercado, 28, appeared in 20 games with the Cards this year and tallied 32 plate appearances, batting .290/.313/.387 in that brief look. He’s shown a similar contact-oriented, low-power approach in 145 Triple-A plate appearances this season, batting .278/.361/.421 with two homers, a dozen doubles and a 15-for-18 showing in stolen bases.
Mercado had a nice rookie season in Cleveland back in 2019, batting .269/.318/.443 with 15 homers, 25 doubles, a trio of triples and 15 steals in 115 games and 482 plate appearances. His production dissipated in 2020, however, and he’s never rediscovered his stroke. In 491 big league plate appearances since his rookie season, Mercado is a .206/.262/.334 hitter.
Though he hasn’t had much success since ’19, Mercado is a 28-year-old with a lower-than-average strikeout rate and ample experience at all three outfield positions. He’s also generally been good for average or better overall production in Triple-A, hitting .271/.354/.415 there in parts of five seasons. A club looking for some versatile outfield depth and/or a right-handed bat with a decent track record against left-handed pitching could give Mercado a look on a minor league pact.
Mercado appeared to be a decent fourth or fifth outfielder. He should catch on with a team looking for two-league experience.
Agree!
Can’t blame a guy for jumping off a sinking ship. Best of luck Oscar. You deserved more than you got from the Cardinals this season.
I never saw anything from him that made me think he should be a starting MLB outfielder. But there goes another guy from the Cards’ astonishing surplus of “quality depth”.
Best defensive outfielder we had. Probably fastest guy on the team.
I remember when we drafted him, and seeing him on the prospect list at some point before being included in some trade I don’t recall. I do remember he was graded well on his speed and fielding, both ended up being true. Good luck.
That’s funny I wouldn’t have gotten the joke 10 years ago but living out here in Denver now I sure do. The Midwest folks won’t get it haha
Putting himself back out on the Mercado
He’s going to get picked up by someone. A decent 26th man that can play and step in where needed.
Once again the Cardinals DFA d the wrong person, bullpen just blew another one
I always thought he was good with the Indians, somebody will grab him
Oscar a grouch by now
the gut never got a real chance. in the 32 plate appearances. good contact hitter with great wheels little power but the cards would rather have a guy that hits 20 HRs and bats .200.
Congratulations to Oscar for getting away from that putrid franchise!!