June 3, 2008 Kent Mercker has been placed on the 15-day DL due to chronic back pain, according to the AP. That was the second time this season he has been brought down by his back. The Reds purchased the contract of left-hander Danny Herrera from Triple-A Louisville to cover his spot on the roster.
May 29, 2008 Kent Mercker has been reinstated from the DL, according to the Miami Herald. Mercker has been out since May 9th due to a sore lower back. As reported earlier, Matt Belisle was demoted to make room on the roster for Mercker.
May 9, 2008 Kent Mercker has been placed on the 15-day DL due to lower back pain, according to the AP. The move is retroactive to Tuesday. Bill Bray has been recalled from Triple-A Louisville to fill Mercker's spot on the roster.
March 31, 2008 Kent Mercker has made the Reds' roster, according to RedsReporter.com. He will hold a role as a middle reliever, but his fantasy value is limited as he only had 17 strikeouts over 28.1 innings in 2006, with a 4.13 ERA.
February 16, 2008 Kent Mercker is feeling good and ready to compete for a bullpen role. He missed all of 2007 after having Tommy John surgery in 2006. "I wasn't surprised that my elbow felt good," Mercker tells the Cincinnati Enquirer. "But I was surprised how good my shoulder felt... If I'm throwing well and I turn my ankle or something, I'd be willing to go to the minors to get ready."
