You gotta feel for Oscar Mercado after getting designated for assignment again by the Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians designated Oscar Mercado for assignment, again

You have to feel for Oscar Mercado. The Cleveland Guardians designated Mercado for assignment on June 21, attempting to send him down to Triple-A Columbus. The Philadelphia Phillies weren’t having that and claimed him. He didn’t last long there and was designated for assignment again. This time the Guardians snatched him back up on July 4. Less than two weeks later, the Guardians are again designing Mercado for assignment.

Replacing him will be Alex Call, who has split time between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron the last three seasons.

For Mercado, to be designated for assignment on three separate occasions the last month has to hurt, especially considering where he was just a few years ago as a rookie for the Guardians. He hit .269, with 15 home runs, and 54 RBIs while doing it all in just 115 games.

Now he’s on his way back down to Triple-A, assuming someone doesn’t pick up him up yet again.

Sending him to Triple-A Columbus was the plan last time

The Cleveland Guardians clearly see something of value in him. He’s out of minor league options, which is why he keeps getting designated for assignments. These teams want him to work out his swing in the minors to see if he can improve his production.

If he can actually clear waivers and get to Columbus, then he can get to work with the staff down there and see if he can reclaim that former swing that made his rookie year in 2019 so memorable.

That’s always been the plan, but teams get messing it up. The Guards don’t need him currently, with Nolan Jones raking like its autumn, Oscar Gonzalez on his way back to the roster, Steven Kwan settling in nicely as the new lead-off hitter, and of course Myles Straw who’s hitting poorly but still working the plate as well as anyone.