The Phillies announced Friday that theyve signed outfielder to a minor league contract and invited him to big league camp this spring. Hes represented by Excel Sports Management. Philadelphia also Nolan Gorman Jersey confirmed its signing of infielder to a minor league deal and invitation to camp, as . The 30-year-old Mercado will give the Phillies a right-handed bat to join their outfield competition. Hes a veteran of five big league seasons who most recently appeared with the Cardinals in 2023, when he hit .290/.313/.387 in 20 games. A 2013 second-round pick by the Cards, Mercado had a big rookie showing with Cleveland (who picked him up via trade) back in 2019, slashing .269/.318/.443 with 15 homers and 15 steals in 482 plate appearances. Hes yet to replicate that production in the majors but brings some speed and good bat-to-ball skills (career 19% strikeout rate) to the Phillies non-roster group this spring. In 973 major league plate appearances, Mercado is a .237/.289/.388 hitter. He can play all three outfield spots and has plus grades in center (10 Defensive Runs Saved, 7 Outs Above Average) in 951 big league innings there. Mercado split the 2024 season between the Triple-A clubs for the Padres and Tigers, batting a combined .222/.308/.415 with a dozen homers and a 16-for-20 showing in stolen base attempts. Hes played in parts of six Triple-A seasons and tallied 1787 plate appearances there, with a .266/.347/.434 slash to show for his efforts. The Phillies outfield right now includes , , , and, to a le ser extent, utilityman . The general expectation has been that Kepler and Castellanos would handle the corners, with Marsh and Rojas forming a platoon in center. Mercado creates some competition for Rojas in that regard. Hes a career .254/.309/.406 hitter against lefties, whereas Rojas carries a .258/.285/.340 output versus southpaws. Kepler has rough-looking career marks against lefties as well, though his production in recent years suggests hes made considerable strides against southpaws; since 2022, hes posted a roughly average .254/.319/.396 line against lefties (102 wRC+). Mike Shannon Jersey
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