Mercer announced Tuesday via his personal Twitter account that he has retired from professional baseball.
Considering he turned 35 years old in August and didn't land an invitation to a big-league camp during the offseason, Mercer's decision to retire doesn't come as a major surprise. Mercer spent parts of 10 seasons in the majors with the Pirates, Tigers, Yankees and Nationals, compiling a .256/.315/.386 slash line and 66 home runs over 950 career games.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Pops homer in loss
Rotowire
Mercer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to Boston.
The infielder went yard in the eighth inning, but that was the last of Washington's scoring in the contest. Mercer has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 6-for-25 (.240) in that span. He has a .261/.317/.369 slash line across 120 plate appearances while adding two homers, seven RBI and 13 runs scored in 44 contests this year. Mercer has seen less than a short-side platoon role at second base with Luis Garcia since the former returned from a calf injury in mid-September, although Mercer has also seen some playing time at the hot corner.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Activated by Nats
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Mercer (calf) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Mercer landed on the injured list with a left calf strain July 24, but he began a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg last week. He went 3-for-9 with a run, two walks and three strikeouts across three rehab games and will rejoin the Nationals as utility depth after Adrian Sanchez was designated for assignment.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mercer (calf) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Mercer has been sidelined since July 24 due to a left calf strain, but he'll play second base and lead off in his return to game action Wednesday. The 35-year-old will likely require several rehab appearances following his lengthy absence, but he appears to be on track to rejoin the Nationals prior to the end of the regular season.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Returns to IL
Rotowire
Mercer was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left calf strain, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The infielder presumably suffered the injury July 20, which was the last game he appeared in. Mercer had just been activated from the IL on July 16 after recovering from a quadriceps strain, but now he's set for another absence. It's unclear how long he'll be sidelined. Carter Kieboom was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to provide infield depth in Mercer's absence.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Mercer (quadriceps) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Mercer landed on the shelf June 2 with a quadriceps strain, and he'll rejoin the active roster after missing the past two weeks. The 34-year-old could see increased playing time with Starlin Castro on administrate leave for at least seven days.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Runs bases Friday
Rotowire
Mercer did some baserunning Friday for the first time since suffering a right quad strain, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Mercer landed on the injured list July 2, and while he's eligible to return Sunday in San Francisco, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Nationals wait until after the All-Star break and give him some extra recovery time. Once active, Mercer figures to have a decreased role due to Alcides Escobar's arrival and offensive success.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Mercer was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained right quadriceps, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The veteran infielder left Wednesday's contest with what was initially labeled quad cramps, but he's now been diagnosis with a sprain. It's unclear how long Mercer is expected to be sidelined. Humberto Arteaga was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg in a corresponding move and will start at shortstop Friday with Trea Turner (finger) also banged up.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Not starting Thursday
Rotowire
Mercer (quadriceps) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The 34-year-old played through cramps in his quadriceps Wednesday, and he was further evaluated Thursday. Even though Trea Turner (hamstring) isn't starting, Mercer will be held out of the lineup while he recovers. He's still considered day-to-day, and it's not clear whether he could be available off the bench Thursday.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Plays through cramps Wednesday
Rotowire
Mercer went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over Tampa Bay. Per Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington, manager Davey Martinez said that Mercer is dealing with cramps in his quadriceps and will be further evaluated Thursday.
Mercer received his first start since being hit in the mouth by a grounder last Thursday. The utility infielder popped his first homer of the campaign when he took Michael Wacha deep in the the fifth inning, and he later singled and scored in the eighth. Both Mercer and Juan Soto dealt with leg cramps during the contest, though Mercer was able to stay in the game. Mercer will be looked at again Thursday and is considered day-to-day for the time being.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Mercer (lips) is starting Wednesday's game against the Rays.
Mercer received lip stitches after a grounder popped up and hit him in the mouth last week, and he hasn't appeared in a game since then. He'll start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's series finale.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Receives lip stitches
Rotowire
Mercer may only be available in an emergency Thursday at Miami after receiving three stitches in his lip, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.
The veteran infielder had a grounder pop up and hit him in the mouth during the ninth inning of Wednesday's win over the Phillies, though he remained in the contest since the Nationals were out of bench players. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, but Mercer's usage may be limited for a couple days while he deals with the discomfort.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Could get more time sans Castro
Rotowire
Mercer will start at third base and bat seventh Wednesday against the Pirates.
He'll pick up the nod at the hot corner in the Nationals' first game without their primary option at the position in Starlin Castro (personal), who was moved to the restricted list Wednesday. According to Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington, the Nationals plan to deploy a committee of Josh Harrison, Luis Garcia and Mercer to cover second and third base while Castro is out. Since Harrison appears to be locked into a full-time role, the righty-hitting Mercer will most likely fill the short side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Garcia at the other available infield spot.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Fills in for Josh Harrison
Rotowire
Mercer will start at second base and bat seventh Thursday against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The 34-year-old journeyman is picking up his second start in four games, but he still looks to be a true backup to second baseman Josh Harrison rather than one half of a timeshare at the position. Mercer boasts a reliable glove in the middle infield, but he offers little impact at the plate, especially at this stage of his career.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Making little impact
Rotowire
Mercer is slashing .233/.250/.279 through 44 plate appearances with a 1:12 BB:K.
While the veteran infielder has been making fairly regular appearances off the bench for the Nats, Mercer hasn't been taking advantage of his opportunities and is still looking for his first RBI. He might last on the roster only until the team feels a younger option like Carter Kieboom or Luis Garcia is ready to give the majors another shot.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Activated from COVID IL
Rotowire
Mercer was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.
The 34-year-old was one of nine Nationals players that landed on the COVID-19 IL after last week's outbreak, but he apparently isn't one of the infected players. Mercer should serve as a utility infielder for Washington.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Lands on COVID IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Mercer on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Mercer is one of nine Nationals players on the 40-man roster who will begin the campaign on the IL as a result of the team's recent COVID-19 outbreak. Prior reports have suggested that only four of the players in question actually tested positive, but it's uncertain whether Mercer is one of the infected players or merely a close contact. Per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, players who tested positive will be eligible to return after 10 days in quarantine, while those ruled out through contact tracing can return after a week. Mercer had been projected to begin the season as a utility infielder for Washington, but his absence likely paves the way for Luis Garcia or Carter Kieboom to handle those duties.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Contract selected by Nationals
Rotowire
Mercer's contract was selected by the Nationals on Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Mercer didn't turn heads at the plate this spring, as he hit .200 with two extra-base hits and three runs in 17 Grapefruit League games. However, he'll serve as infield depth to begin the regular season after Luis Garcia and Carter Kieboom were optioned to Triple-A on Saturday.
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Nationals' Jordy Mercer: Joins Washington
Rotowire
Mercer signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 34-year-old appeared in nine games between the Tigers and Yankees last season, going 4-for-20 with two runs scored. Mercer will provide infield depth for Washington if he manages to crack the Opening Day roster.
Mercer accepted an outright assignment to the Yankees' alternate training site Thursday.
He was booted off the 40-man roster earlier in the week but is willing to remain in the organization as infield depth going forward.
