After a brief stint with the Phillies, Oscar Mercado is back.
He’s now on a short list of players to appear in a game for Cleveland, play elsewhere in the majors, and then return to Cleveland in the same season.
This is a difficult bit of trivia to research, but I am aware of at least one other instance: Jeff Manto in 1998.
Manto made the Opening Day roster – he actually started at 1B on Opening Day in place of Jim Thome, with Randy Johnson on the mound. Manto was then placed on waivers and picked up by Detroit.
The Tigers released Manto in June and a few days later he re-signed with Cleveland and was sent to AAA. In August, Manto was recalled, and appeared in a few more games for Cleveland down the stretch.
Manto was acquired by the Indians in six different transactions throughout his career.
