Padres News: Journeyman Outfielder Leaves San Diego, Signs Deal with Dodgers

A familiar name is heading just up the 5 freeway to LA

Oscar Mercado once looked like the future face of the franchise in Cleveland when he broke onto the scene in 2019.

That year, he had a very decent batting average of .269 and clubbed 15 homers in his first year in the majors. If not for Yordan Alvarez having an even more amazing year, Mercado might've even garnered some votes for AL ROTY. 

Since then, his bat has kind of fallen quiet. He's hit just .209 ever since his miraculous 2019 campaign, and it's led to him being shuffled around the minors a couple times. 

The Padres took him in this season after spending 20 games with St. Louis, and his production really took off in the minors this year.

He's spent a lot of time in both the Cardinals and Padres Triple-A affiliates, where he's hit .308 between the two. 

Mercado decided to opt out of his deal with the Padres, and elected free agency earlier this week.

It looks like the 28-year-old outfielder will be staying in the NL West, but playing for the Dodgers in Triple-A for now, according to MLBTR's Steve Adams:

Outfielder Oscar Mercado has signed a minor league deal with the #Dodgers, per source. Headed to Triple-A OKC for now. Mercado opted out of a minor league deal with the #Padres last week

— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) August 26, 2023

The Dodgers made it no secret as to what they wanted at the trade deadline, when they went out and got two right-handed bats in Kike Hernandez and Amed Rosario, now they might've found another offensive weapon on the free agent market.

It seems like Mercado could produce, at least on the minor league level. With the way the Dodgers have developed prospects over the years, they very well may turn Rosario into their next superstar.

LA has one of the best farm systems in the game, and even though Mercado isn't your typical "prospect" given his age, there's still a lot to learn in the game, and the Dodgers might give him the best shot to learn it.

We wish him the best of luck, and hope for nothing but the best for him!