Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Mejia was cut loose by the Rays at the end of camp but will now receive a look with the Brewers. The 28-year-old will provide catching depth at Triple-A Nashville as prospect Jeferson Quero deals with a shoulder injury.
... See More... See Less
Francisco Mejia: Cut loose by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays released Mejia on Wednesday.
Rather than reporting to Triple-A Durham after he failed to make the Rays' Opening Day roster out of spring training, Mejia will be granted the opportunity to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Regarded as a bat-first catcher, Mejia has still been well below the baseline of a league-average hitter over parts of seven seasons in the majors, producing a lifetime .239/.284/.394 slash line (87 wRC+) over 1,098 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Doesn't make roster
Rotowire
The Rays informed Mejia that he did not make the Opening Day roster Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia was signed in late February and was competing for the backup catcher job. He made plenty of contact across 16 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, though he didn't make enough of an impression to secure a roster spot.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Headed back to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia was abruptly released by the Angels over the weekend but has quickly found new work in a familiar spot. Topkin notes that Alex Jackson is still expected to be Rene Pinto's backup, but Mejia will provide depth at catcher and is already familiar with much of the pitching staff.
... See More... See Less
Francisco Mejia: Let go by Angels
Rotowire
The Angels released Mejia on Sunday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Mejia joined the Angels on a minor-league contract in December after slashing .227/.258/.400 with five home runs and 19 RBI over 160 plate appearances with the Rays last season. He was set to compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher spot, but now Mejia will be on the lookout for a new team for the 2024 season.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Francisco Mejia: Signs MiLB deal with Angels
Rotowire
Mejia signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Mejia slashed .227/.258/.400 across 160 plate appearances with the Rays last season. His deal includes an invite to major-league camp, where he will presumably compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher spot behind Logan O'Hoppe.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Accepts outright assignment
Rotowire
Mejia cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Meija has accepted the outright assignment, per Topkin, which isn't a surprise since declining it would mean forfeiting what remains of his $2.16 million salary for this season. The catcher is under team control for 2024 but would seem to be a likely non-tender candidate.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays activated Mejia (knee) from the 10-day injured list and designated him for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia completed his rehab assignment after recovering from a left knee sprain and seemingly was poised to rejoin the Rays' 26-man active roster. However, the team has decided they prefer what Rene Pinto provides as the No. 2 catcher behind Christian Bethancourt. Mejia could clear waivers based on his $2.16 million salary this season, but the former top prospect is under team control for another season, so it's possible he garners interest from other organizations.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mejia (knee) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
Mejia went hitless in four plate appearances for Durham on Sunday in his first game action since he went down in late July with a left MCL sprain. He could be ready for activation within the next week or so to serve as Tampa Bay's second catcher behind Christian Bethancourt.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mejia (knee) could resume on-field activities Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
If all goes well this weekend, Mejia could play in minor-league rehab games early next week. Rays manager Kevin Cash suggested the catcher could then rejoin the major-league roster by the tail end of the club's upcoming road trip or when the team returns home Aug. 22. Mejia, who has a .658 OPS and five home runs this season, figures to operate as the clear No. 2 behind Christian Bethancourt upon his return.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Out up to six weeks
Rotowire
Mejia (knee) will likely be out 3-6 weeks with the left MCL sprain that sent him to the injured list Friday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia told reporters Friday afternoon that he was optimistic about only needing a minimal 10-day IL stint, but instead the injury is significant enough that it will require a multi-week shutdown period and then probably a multi-week buildup before his return. Rene Pinto has been summoned to the Rays to share time behind the plate with Christian Bethancourt.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Not expected to be out long
Rotowire
Mejia (knee) is optimistic that he won't need a long stint on the injured list, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Mejia was placed on the injured list Friday with a left MCL sprain, but the catcher said he merely has some inflammation and should be ready after a few weeks of rest and rehab. Rene Pinto is up as Mejia's roster replacement.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Mejia exited Thursday's game against the Orioles with left knee discomfort, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Mejia exited to start the seventh inning, though it's unclear how the injury occurred. Christian Bethancourt took over behind the plate and would see an uptick in playing time if Mejia is sidelined for any lengthy period of time.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
Mejia (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left MCL sprain.
Mejia left Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles early with a left knee injury, which has now been diagnosed as an MCL sprain following an MRI. The 27-year-old will now be unavailable for at least 10 days while nursing the injury. Rene Pinto was called up from Triple-A Durham on Friday and he will serve as Christian Bethancourt's backup at catcher for the time being.
Mejia will undergo an MRI on his left knee following Thursday's game against the Orioles, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia exited in the seventh inning of Thursday's game. Manager Kevin Cash said that for now the team is considering Mejia's injury a sprain, but there is some concern the issue is more severe. Rene Pinto is currently on a rehab assignment while recovering from an undisclosed injury, though he'd almost certainly be recalled when available to back up Christian Bethancourt if Mejia is forced to the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Swats fourth homer
Rotowire
Mejia went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Royals.
Mejia drew the start in the first game of the doubleheader and blasted his fourth homer of the season -- three of which have come in his last 16 games. However, he's hit only .200 in that span and has started only five of the Rays' last 15 games while losing out on playing time to Christian Bethancourt.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Swats homer in loss
Rotowire
Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday in a loss to the Royals.
Mejia's seventh-inning solo blast tied the game 3-3, though Kansas City ultimately pulled out the win. The backstop has hit safely in all but one of his nine games in June, batting .355 (11-for-31) with two homers and six RBI over that span. However, he continues to split time behind the plate with the struggling Christian Bethancourt, who is slashing .171/.186/.171 this month but has played in two more contests than Mejia thus far.
Mejia went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in Saturday's loss to Texas.
Mejia got the start behind the plate and accounted for most of the Rays' run output with his three-run blast off Nathan Eovaldi in the fourth inning. The backstop has hit safely in each of his past five games and is batting .444 (8-for-18) over that span, but he continues to split time at catcher with Christian Bethancourt. The latter has outhomered Mejia 7-2 on the campaign and has superior numbers overall, so Mejia's big performance Saturday isn't likely to result in a changing of the guard.
