The Phillies have claimed outfielder Óscar Mercado off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced today.
Mercado, 27, appeared in 49 games for Cleveland this season, batting .202 with six doubles, a triple, four home runs, 16 RBI, two steals and 17 runs scored. He made starts at all three outfield positions for the Guardians.
Mercado has played in parts of four major league seasons (2019-22), posting a .235 career batting average with 43 doubles, five triples, 26 home runs, 95 RBI, 27 steals and 120 runs scored across 272 games. Defensively, he has 15 Defensive Runs Saved in his career, including 11 in center field. In 2019, Mercado led all American League rookies in steals (15) and runs (70) and was third in hits (118) behind only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (126) and Eloy Jimenez (125). Mercado was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the June 2013 draft out of Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla. He is a native of Cartegena, Colombia.
To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Damon Jones was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley and placed on the 60-day injured list with a left shoulder impingement. A corresponding 26-man roster move will be made when Mercado reports.
