Phillies Add on Minor League Deal
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced Friday. Represented by Excel Sports Management, Mercado will compete for a roster spot this spring. The Phillies also confirmed their signing of infielder Christian Arroyo, as previously reported.
Mercado, 30, brings a right-handed bat to Philadelphia’s outfield competition. A veteran of five MLB seasons, he last played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023, posting a .290/.313/.387 slash line over 20 games. Originally drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2013 draft, Mercado had an impressive rookie campaign with Cleveland in 2019, hitting .269/.318/.443 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases across 482 plate appearances. While he hasn’t matched that level of production since, he offers speed and solid contact skills, evidenced by his career 19% strikeout rate.
In 973 major league plate appearances, Mercado holds a .237/.289/.388 career batting line. He has experience at all three outfield positions and has shown strong defensive ability in center field, where he’s recorded 10 Defensive Runs Saved and seven Outs Above Average in 951 innings.
During the 2024 season, Mercado split time between the Triple-A affiliates of the San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers. He hit .222/.308/.415 with 12 home runs and successfully stole 16 bases in 20 attempts. Over six Triple-A seasons, he has compiled a .266/.347/.434 slash line in 1,787 plate appearances.
The Phillies’ current outfield mix includes Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas, and utility player Weston Wilson. Kepler and Castellanos are expected to handle the corner spots, while Marsh and Rojas form a platoon in center field. Mercado’s presence could create additional competition for Rojas, particularly against left-handed pitchers. Mercado has a career .254/.309/.406 slash line against lefties, slightly stronger than Rojas’ .258/.285/.340 mark. Kepler has historically struggled against southpaws, though his recent numbers suggest improvement. Since 2022, he has posted a respectable .254/.319/.396 line (102 wRC+) against left-handed pitching.
With spring training approaching, Mercado will look to carve out a role in the Phillies’ outfield mix, adding depth and versatility to the roster.
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