Phillies Cut Ties With Veteran Outfielder After Very Brief Reunion

BusinessSportsMoneyPhillies Cut Ties With Veteran Outfielder After Very Brief ReunionByPeter Chawaga,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 06:00am EDTPHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: The Phillies logo at section 108 seat 32 is shown at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rain cancelled the game against the Atlanta Braves and is rescheduled as a doubleheader tomorrow. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Phillies have enjoyed a surge in the record books after making a dramatic change at the top.After bench coach Don Mattingly took over for long-time skipper Rob Thomson, the team has won four straight series, with the starting pitching staff becoming much more effective and some position players finding their groove.For instance, after Mattingly encouraged beleaguered infielder Alec Bohm to take a few days off from hitting, he returned to the lineup with much better results. And amid some public praise from the new manager, outfielder Brandon Marsh has emerged as Major League Baseball’s overall batting average leader.ForbesPhillies Get Ranger Suarez Update After Injury SetbackBy Peter ChawagaPhiladelphia Phillies Cut Ties With Veteran Outfielder Oscar MercadoBut as the team starts to get more from its personnel, the organization also decided to cut ties with a long-tenured outfielder on Sunday as the Phillies released Oscar Mercado from their Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs, per the transaction log.The Phillies signed Mercado to a minor-league deal in March after he saw 34 plate appearances and a .242/.265/.333 slash line in preseason with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mercado also played for the IronPigs last season, which evidently left an impression on the club.MORE FOR YOU“Mercado had a solid season with the Phillies’ Triple-A club in Lehigh Valley last year, his...