The Phillies released a pair of minor league players over the past couple of days. Veteran Oscar Mercado was released from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and right-hander Richard Reyes who had last pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2024 were both cut loose.
Mercado hit 11 home runs with 65 RBI and a slash line of .249/.369/.373/.742 with Lehigh Valley last season. He also stole 40 bases. Following the season he became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was released late in spring training. The Phillies re-signed him and assigned him to Lehigh Valley. This season, the 31-year-old was hitting .141/.262/.183/.445 in 24 games with the IronPigs.
Last August, Mercado had opted out of his contract with the Phillies, but re-signed when he was unable to catch on with another team.
Reyes, 22, was signed as an international free agent in 2024 and pitched in 13 games — six starts — with the Phillies DSL team in 2024. He posted a 4.50 ERA in 36 innings. He walked 14 and struck out 34 hitters. He was placed on the 60-day IL with an undisclosed injury last May and was not activated until last week. The Phillies released him three days later.
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