The Detroit Tigers have signed outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor-league contract and assigned him to their Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens.
Mercado, who will turn 30 in December, has spent parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball with three different teams. Known for his impressive rookie year with Cleveland in 2019, Mercado has struggled with consistency since, particularly during the shortened 2020 season.
Originally from Cartagena, Colombia, Mercado was recognized for his strong defensive skills in center field early in his career and has experience in the other outfield positions as well. He has also performed better against left-handed pitchers, which has made him a valuable platoon player at times.
Mercado grew up in Tampa, Florida, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He was traded to Cleveland in 2018 and later claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022, though he was reclaimed by the Guardians just eight days later.
After becoming a free agent at the end of the season, Mercado re-signed with the Cardinals but played only briefly for them. He spent most of last year with Triple-A teams in Memphis (Cardinals), Oklahoma City (Dodgers), and El Paso (Padres). He played the majority of this season in El Paso before opting out of his contract three weeks ago.
The Mud Hens have brought in Mercado to strengthen their roster following recent promotions of Jace Jung, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, and Ryan Kreidler.
