The Dodgers have signed outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor league deal, MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams reports (via X). Mercado will report to the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate.
After signing a minors contract with the Cardinals last November, Mercado had his deal selected and he appeared in 20 games for St. Louis before being designated for assignment at the start of July. Mercado opted for free agency rather than accept an outright assignment, and while he landed pretty quickly with the Padres on another minor league deal, he hit the open market again earlier this week when he exercised an opt-out clause in that contract.
Mercado’s path has now taken him to Los Angeles, where he’ll try to become the latest player to resurrect his career in Dodger blue. The 28-year-old made his MLB debut in 2019 with Cleveland and finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting that year, though his star dimmed after a lot of struggles at the plate. Mercado went back and forth between the Guardians and Phillies on a pair of waiver claims that put him back in Cleveland for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
Mercado is still a very solid hitter at the minor league level, including a .308/.379/.544 slash line over 283 Triple-A plate appearances this season. While his career MLB slash line is a much more modest .237/.289/.388 over 973 PA, he has hit left-handed pitching generally better, and Mercado also offers skills beyond the bat. He can play all three outfield positions in above-average fashion, and he is a quality basestealer, with 25 swipes in 29 attempts at Triple-A this year.
The Dodgers already have plenty of outfield options on their MLB roster, though Mookie Betts has still seen a good deal of second base action and L.A.’s overall hitting depth took a hit when J.D. Martinez was placed on the 10-day injured list. Mercado might essentially take the minor league depth spot ticketed for Jake Marisnick before Marisnick suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined until mid-September due to a 60-day IL placement.
Oscar belongs in Hollywood I guess.
Everybody knows that Hollywood’s sells Californiacation? Lake Tahoe?
Everyone’s been there and I don’t mean on vacation?
First born unicorn
He’s back off the Mercado again
Those MERCADOS don’t work at the major league level? They take care of minor league problems to a triple slash line of .308/.379/.544? But major league problems you only get a 23% success rate on? We need RESULTS DAMNIT
Can they sign a LHP reliever to a minor league deal?
“He can play all three outfield positions in above-average fashion”
The reasons the Cardinals DFAed him was because they expected him to play centerfield? And his routes were terrible, giving up runs to the pirates in PNC, he profiles best as a corner outfielder
Pretty much everyone profiles best as a corner outfielder.
Hard to be better in CF than LF or RF
Promising rookie year and pretty much nothing since. Mercado must be a million dollar ego with a 10cent head
Dude’s racking up frequent flier miles this season.
every team must think wait! what did we miss? when the Dodgers scoop em.