The Philadelphia Phillies had Monday off after completing a home series against the Colorado Rockies, a matchup in which they claimed two wins out of three games. The brief break gave the club a chance to reset before heading back on the road.
Philadelphia returns to action opening a new series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Phillies Release Five-Year Veteran
Before traveling to Boston, the Phillies made a roster decision by releasing outfielder from the organization. Mercado had been signed to a minor-league contract and was playing at the Triple-A level.
During his time in Triple-A this season, Mercado struggled at the plate. In 24 games, he hit .141, recording 10 hits, one home run, six RBIs, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases. Despite a more productive showing at the same level last year, the slow start in 2026 ultimately led to his release.
Mercado last appeared in a major league game during the 2023 season.
Mercado’s Major League Background
Selected in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Mercado began his big-league career with Cleveland, where he spent the first several seasons establishing himself as an everyday outfielder. He later had stops with Philadelphia and St. Louis.
Across five MLB seasons and 298 career games, the 31-year-old owns a .237 batting average, totaling 211 hits, 26 home runs, 100 RBIs, 123 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. At his best, Mercado showed the ability to impact games with both his bat and speed.
Given his experience and past production, he could still emerge as a low-risk minor league option for another team.
Phillies Right Now
The Phillies enter their series with Boston sitting in second place in the National League East with a 19–22 record through 41 games. They have played solid baseball recently, posting a 7–3 record over their last ten contests, though road performance remains an area to improve.
After finishing the three-game set in Boston, Philadelphia will continue its road trip with a weekend series against Pittsburgh beginning Friday night.