The 24-year-old has flashed his potential time and time again for the Columbus Clippers. Mercado has a .288/.392/.477 slash line in 28 games this season. He's a plus defender, adds speed on the base paths and brings a skillset that should appeal to a team like the Indians, who have struggled to score runs this season. They only have one player in their starting lineup with a batting average that’s higher than Mercado’s (Carlos Santana – .292).
Some believe he hasn't been called up because of service time, but that isn’t the case. The regular season lasts 187 days. If a player spends 172 days on a major league roster or injured list, he earns a year of service time. And after six years of service time, the player is eligible for free agency.
The days can be earned incrementally, which means Mercado could pick up a year of service time by spending 96 days on the Indians’ roster this season and 76 days on it next year.
Mercado wouldn’t earn a full year of service time this season, even if he were promoted in the near future.
Keeping him in the minors may seem like a bad decision, but it makes sense if you look at the roster. The Indians want him to be a big part of the future, which means making sure he plays everyday. That wouldn't happen in the big leagues.
The Indians’ outfield may be full of question marks, but they have multiple options for just three spots. Jake Bauers, Tyler Naquin, Leonys Martin and Jordan Luplow are all capable of being everyday outfielders. Only three of them are in the lineup on an everyday basis, unless Terry Francona makes one of them the designated hitter.
Veteran Carlos Gonzalez has shown enough to play on an everyday basis. He made two crucial plays in left field on Wednesday that helped the Indians pick up a big win.
“I talked to all of them together and told them that there may be a day where they sit, where they normally wouldn’t,” manager Terry Francona said. “I want to keep them all fresh, hopefully productive, things like that. So they understand that. I talked them all as a group, I just thought it made sense to do that.”
Is it more beneficial for Mercado’s development to have him play three times a week for the Indians or everyday for the Clippers?
Instead of promoting him to the Major League roster, the Indians are hoping he benefits from everyday at-bats in Triple-A. If he continues to play well, he will get his opportunity.
The Indians need to find solutions to their issues at the plate. If they thought Mercado was their best option in the outfield, then he would be in the big leagues.
Keeping him in Columbus while they sort through this outfield could benefit him long-term. The Indians want Mercado to be part of the present and the future, but they want to make sure they do it the right way.