ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: Yermin Mercedes #73 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after his RBI double against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 02, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox slugger Yermin Mercedes is not retiring after all, but he’s stuck in the minor leagues. Could he be on the trade market come July 30?
The White Sox don’t seem inclined to trade Mercedes at this very moment, but the headache of his recent retirement rumors could persuade them otherwise.
Tony La Russa’s public exchange with Mercedes over the unwritten rules of baseball indirectly led to a rough slump for a 28-year-old rookie who spent seven seasons in the minors to reach his ultimate goal.
Faced again with the possibility of a long minor-league spell, Mercedes hinted at retirement on Instagram. Yet, after conferring with the White Sox, he’s in the lineup for the Charlotte Knights on Thursday night.
It’s tough to see Mercedes and La Russa having a productive relationship moving forward. One directly conflicts with the other. So, would there be a market for a high-profile minor league bat?
Mercedes primarily serves as a designated hitter, and wouldn’t land much in return minus another team simply taking him off the White Sox’s hands. He has Nelson Cruz potential, but hasn’t hit consistently at that clip since May.