After posting a 6.15 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 26.1 innings at the big-league level with the Royals in 2023, Mayers was forced to settle for a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in free agency this offseason. The 32-year-old right-hander didn't perform well enough at Triple-A Buffalo this season to garner a look with the big club before he was cut loose, as he logged a 6.10 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 41.1 innings in the International League.
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Blue Jays' Mike Mayers: Joining Toronto
Rotowire
Mayers agreed to a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday that includes an invitation to big-league camp.
Mayers appeared in six games for the Royals last season and posted a 6.15 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB across 26.1 innings. He also struggled at the Triple-A level with a 6.80 ERA and is likely to serve as organizational depth with the Blue Jays.
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White Sox's Mike Mayers: Lands with White Sox
Rotowire
The White Sox acquired Mayers from the Royals on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Mayers was removed from the Royals' 40-man roster last month after putting up a 6.15 ERA in six games (two starts) this season. He'll head to Triple-A Charlotte for now but could eventually get a shot with the White Sox in the rotation or bullpen.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Accepts outright assignment
Rotowire
Mayers accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Mayers cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by Kansas City on Sunday. The right-hander had the option to elect free agency, but he'll stay in the Royals' organization instead. In order for him to pitch at the big-league level, Kansas City will have to place him back on the 40-man roster.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Mayers was designated for assignment by Kansas City on Sunday.
Mayers was removed from both the 40- and 26-man active rosters after allowing six runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Saturday. If he goes unclaimed or isn't traded, he'll likely report back to Triple-A Omaha to provide pitching depth, but he'll have to be added back to the 40-man roster in order to pitch in the majors again.
Mayers did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings against the Angels. He struck out one.
Mayers had been operating as a bulk reliever behind an opener during his last three appearances, but he drew his second start of the year Saturday. The role switch didn't change things for the right-hander, who has now given up 16 earned runs over his past three outings while posting more walks (five) than strikeouts (three) during that stretch. The Royals are dealing with numerous injuries to their pitching staff, which has allowed Mayers to carve out a role recently, but if he continues to struggle, Kansas City may have to look for help in the minors.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Takes loss Sunday
Rotowire
Mayers (1-2) took the loss Sunday versus the Orioles, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one over five innings.
The Royals were able to overcome the three-spot opener Jonathan Hernandez gave up in the first inning, but Mayers struggled in the third and fourth innings. He's worked behind an opener each of his last three outings to mixed results -- he's given up 11 runs (10 earned) over 14 innings in that span. For the season, he's at a 5.06 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 21.1 innings. If he continues in his current role, he's lined up to start or pitch as a bulk reliever over the weekend at home versus the Angels.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Set to work in bulk relief
Rotowire
Mayers is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Carlos Hernandez in Sunday's game in Baltimore, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez isn't expected to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Mayers, who is working behind an opener for the third game in a row. Since joining the rotation in late May, Mayers has gone 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB across 13.2 innings in three appearances (one start).
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Struggles in loss
Rotowire
Mayers (1-1) took the loss Monday against Miami, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk over three innings.
The Marlins jumped all over Mayers after he came on in relief behind opener Carlos Hernandez in the third inning. Mayers surrendered two runs in the third and another four in the fourth, eventually taking his first loss of the season. It was a rough night for the 31-year-old Mayers after he held opponents to one run or fewer in his first three appearances. His ERA shot up to 4.41 after coming into the day with a 1.35 mark.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Set to work behind opener again
Rotowire
Mayers is expected to serve as the primary pitcher behind opener Carlos Hernandez during Monday's game against the Marlins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Mayers also worked behind an opener during last Monday's matchup in St. Louis, and he picked up his first win of the season by striking out three in six scoreless innings. The right-hander should be available for his normal workload despite operating as a primary pitcher again.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Earns first win of season
Rotowire
Mayers (1-0) earned the win during Monday's 7-0 victory over St. Louis, allowing two hits across six scoreless innings. He recorded three strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.
Mayers operated behind opener Josh Staumont on Monday, and the two combined for seven shutout innings. Over his first three appearances of the season, Mayers has allowed just two runs across 13.1 innings and sports a 14:5 K:BB during that stretch. It's unclear if Mayers will continue operating as a bulk reliever or move back to a normal starting role, but either way, he figures to get plenty of innings until Brad Keller (shoulder) is cleared to return from the injured list.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Working behind opener Monday
Rotowire
Mayers is expected to serve as the primary pitcher behind opener Josh Staumont during Monday's series opener in St. Louis, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Mayers drew his first start of the year Tuesday against Detroit, allowing a run on six hits and one walk while striking out eight in 4.2 innings. While he tossed 84 pitches during Tuesday's start and should handle a sizable workload Monday, he's slated to work behind Staumont.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Dazzles in first start of 2023
Rotowire
Mayers did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings against the Tigers. He struck out eight.
Though Mayers was initially brought up to serve in the bullpen as a bulk reliever, he ended up being called on to make his first start of the season and rewarded fantasy managers who took a risk on the veteran after his Triple-A struggles (6.88 ERA across eight starts) and poor first showing. With Daniel Lynch (shoulder) approaching a return, it's unclear if Mayers will stick around for another turn in the rotation. If he does, managers should still treat him as a risky streaming option considering all signs point toward Tuesday's performance being an outlier.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Getting spot start Tuesday
Rotowire
Mayers will start Tuesday's game against the Tigers in Kansas City, Pete Grathoff of The Kansas City Star reports.
Mayers had been working as a member of the rotation at Triple-A Omaha prior to his promotion to the Royals last week, but the results were less than encouraging (6.88 ERA in eight starts). He's not a recommended fantasy streamer versus Detroit and will could move back to the bullpen or to Triple-A as soon as this weekend, when Daniel Lynch (shoulder) may be ready to return from the 15-day injured list.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Called up from Triple-A
Rotowire
Kansas City selected Mayers' contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Mayers will join the 26-man active roster as the replacement for Amir Garrett, who was placed on the family medical emergency list Wednesday. Signed to a minor-league contract in December, Mayers has registered a 6.88 ERA over 34 innings with a 1.68 WHIP in eight appearances for Omaha. He had been working in a starting role for Omaha and made his last appearance May 10, so Mayers should be available as a bulk-relief option Wednesday in San Diego behind opener Carlos Hernandez, who is unlikely to work more than two or three innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Shifted to minors camp
Rotowire
Mayers was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Royals on Tuesday.
Mayers allowed eight earned runs through 14.1 innings this spring and will likely begin the season with Triple-A Omaha. The 31-year-old reliever recorded a 6.27 ERA and 1.42 in the minors last season.
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Royals' Mike Mayers: Inks minor-league deal
Rotowire
Mayers signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Thursday.
Mayers was designated for assignment by the Angels in late September, and he elected free agency after refusing an outright assignment. He'll need to settle for a minor-league deal with Kansas City, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him invited to major-league spring training since he spent most of the 2022 campaign in the big leagues.
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Mike Mayers: Chooses free agency
Rotowire
Mayers elected free agency Thursday, per the Sam Blum of The Athletic.
Mayers spent the majority of the season in the majors with the Angels, and he worked as both a starter and reliever. He didn't experience much success in either role, maintaining a 5.68 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 45:18 K:BB across 50.2 frames. Mayers has been effective as a reliever in past campaigns, so it's possible that he finds a big-league deal with a new club over the winter.
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Angels' Mike Mayers: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Angels outrighted Mayers to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Mayers was one of three Angels recently designated for assignment to clear waivers, with first baseman Mike Ford and outfielder Magneuris Sierra also getting outrighted to Triple-A on Sunday. The 30-year-old Mayers is eligible to become a free agent this offseason and may have to settle for a minor-league deal after turning in a 5.68 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 50.2 innings with the Angels in 2022.
