Countdown to Opening Day Begins

2025 Chachi Almost #2

2025 Chachi Almost #3

2025 Chachi Almost #4

2025 Chachi Almost #5

With the Dodgers sealing an 11th inning, Game 7 victory over the Blue Jays early this morning, the baseball offseason is officially underway.  Nine former Phillies are now free agents, and if I had my way, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez, in that order, would all return to the fold for the 2026 season.  Before we shutter The Phillies Room for some offseason maintenance of our own, breaking only occasionally for some offseason news, here's a look at a few 2025 Chachi cards that didn't make it out of the draft folder, and a summary of the first 2025-26 offseason transactions.

2025 Chachi Almost #6

2025 Chachi Almost #7

2025 Chachi Almost #8

Chachi Almost:  I felt the seven players shown here had a chance to suit up with the Phillies in 2025, so Chachi cards were created for them in March.  None of the seven, along with the previously seen Tyler Phillips card, got the call to Citizens Bank Park during the year.  

Oscar Mercado (of) and Rodolfo Castro (inf) had brief stints with the Phillies in prior years.  Kyle Tyler (rhp) was released in July, signing with the White Sox organization less than a week later.  Koyo Aoyagi (rhp) went back to Japan following his release in June, pitching briefly with the Yakult Swallows.  Nabil Crismatt (rhp) was released in August and appeared in eight games for the Diamondbacks, going 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in 34 innings pitched.  Christian Arroyo (inf) spent the entire season with the IronPigs, as did Devin Sweet (rhp).

October 10 - Sweet, Walton Depart:  In the first moves of the offseason, Sweet and Donovan Walton (inf) became minor league free agents.  Walton appeared in a pair of games with the Phillies in September, making two starts at second base and going 1 for 9.

November 2 - Free Agency Opens:  Nine players officially became free agents at the conclusion of the World Series - Walker Buehler (rhp), Max Kepler (of), Tim Mayza (lhp), Realmuto (c), David Robertson (rhp), Jordan Romano (rhp), Schwarber (dh), Suarez (lhp), and Lou Trivino (rhp).

2022 Chachi #46 Oscar Mercado

#35
Oscar Mauricio Mercado
Outfield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  197
Opening Day Age:  27
Born:  December 16, 1994, Cartagena, Colombia
How Obtained:  Selected off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, June 27, 2022
Major League Teams:  Cleveland Indians 2019-2021; Cleveland Guardians 2022; Philadelphia Phillies 2022; Cleveland Guardians 2022

First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
Newest Card Added:  N/A
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2019-2021

0 - Mercado baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/19/22.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2022 Chachi #46

2019 Topps Update #US28

2020 Topps #225

2021 Topps #292

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

2022 Chachi #45 Mark Appel / 2022 Chachi #47 Darick Hall

Game 75 - Homers Doom Phils in Loss

2022 Topps Guardians #CLE-10

Braves 5, Phillies 3
Game 75 - Tuesday Night, June 28th in Philadelphia
Record - 39-36, 3rd Place, 8 games behind the Mets

Post-Vacation Catch-Up Post 4 of 11

One Sentence Summary:  Matt Olson hit a pair of home runs for the Braves, as the Phils dropped the first game of a key series, 5-3.

What It Means:  The Bryce Harper-less offense struggled in this game, going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.  Harper's replacement, Mickey Moniak, went 0 for 3 to lower his season average to .143.

What Happened:  Zack Wheeler kept his team in the game, allowing three runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.  The long ball was his downfall, as he allowed home runs to Travis d'Arnaud and Olson in the first inning.  The Braves took the lead for good in the eighth when Olson homered off reliever Andrew Bellatti.  Kyle Schwarber hit his 22nd home run in the losing effort.

Featured Card:  Not much to get excited about from this game, so here's a card of the newest (and eventual short-timer) Phillies player, Oscar Mercado.  He's got a card in this year's Guardians' retail team set released by Topps.

Transaction:  The Phillies claimed Mercado (of) off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians.  To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Damon Jones (lhp) was recalled from Lehigh Valley and placed on the 60-day injured list with a left shoulder injury.  Zach Eflin (rhp) was then placed on the 10-day IL with a right knee bruise.

	Arrived During the 2022 Season	Date	Transaction
	Roman Quinn - of	4/9/22	Signed as a free agent formerly with the Miami Marlins.
	Oscar Mercado - of	6/27/22	Claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians.
	Departed During the 2022 Season	Date	Transaction
	Ronald Torreyes - inf	4/26/22	Released.
	Roman Quinn - of	6/5/22	Granted free agency, singed with the Kansas City Royals, 6/9/22.
	James Norwood - rhp	6/18/22	Traded to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist