St. Louis Cardinals Place Former Top Prospect On Waivers

The St. Louis Cardinals have recently made the decision to designate outfielder Óscar Mercado for assignment.

Despite showing promise with a solid performance, boasting a batting line of .290/.313/.387 in the limited playing time he received, Mercado struggled to secure a regular role on the team due to the Cardinals' deep outfield options.

1B Luken Baker has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).

OF Óscar Mercado has been designated for assignment. pic.twitter.com/PXjxUUTXlJ

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 3, 2023

Although he initially received significant playing time upon his promotion from Triple-A Memphis in mid-May, his opportunities diminished since the start of June, with just one start and four plate appearances.

As a result, the Cardinals have opted to explore different options for their bench roles, leading to the decision to designate Mercado.

Now, he will go through the waiver process, where other teams will have the opportunity to claim him.

Thank you Oscar Mercado pic.twitter.com/EC5MhdSvan

— Ryan (@The_Ryan_Shull) July 3, 2023

However, if he passes through waivers without being claimed, Mercado could potentially choose free agency if he rejects another outright assignment, allowing him to explore opportunities in the open market.

Over his five-year career, the 28-year-old holds a .237/.289/.388 triple-slash line, with 26 home runs, 100 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and 123 runs scored across 298 games played. Photo Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports