Pirates' Jose Rojas: Inks MiLB deal with Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates signed Rojas to a minor-league contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rojas slashed .254/.359/.561 with 18 home runs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization but was released earlier this month in what was likely an opt-out situation. The 31-year-old will give the Pirates some utility depth in the minors.
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Yankees' Jose Rojas: Invited to Yankees' camp
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Rojas signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Rojas, who turns 31 next month, spent last season in the Korea Baseball Organization with the Doosan Bears. The utility player slashed a meager .188/.245/.339 over 83 games with the Angels from 2021-22. Most likely, he'll begin 2024 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Jose Rojas: To play in KBO
Rotowire
Rojas is signing with the Doosan Bears of the KBO, Sung Min Kim reports.
Rojas, 29, played at Triple-A and the majors last season while splitting time with the Giants and Angels. He hit .275/.350/.571 with 18 home runs in 62 games with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, so he could be productive in the KBO.
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Jose Rojas: Becomes free agent
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Rojas elected free agency Sunday after clearing waivers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Rather than accepting an outright assignment to the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, Rojas will test the open market and get an early start on finding a new home for the 2023 season. Rojas didn't appear in any big-league games with the Giants after being claimed off waivers from the Angels on Sept. 4.
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Giants' Jose Rojas: Dropped from 40-man
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Rojas was designated for assignment by the Giants on Friday.
The 29-year-old was cut from the Giants' 40-man after they claimed Taylor Jones off waivers from Houston. Rojas has shown promise in Triple-A with a .916 OPS on the season, but his success has yet to translate to the major leagues.
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Giants' Jose Rojas: Finds new organization
Rotowire
The Giants claimed Rojas off waivers from the Angels on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
San Francisco cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for the veteran utility man by transferring Brandon Belt (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL. Before the Angels designated him for assignment Thursday, Rojas had logged 57 plate appearances at the big-league level this season, slashing .125/.140/.161 while striking out at a 33.3 percent clip.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Loses spot on 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rojas was designated for assignment by the Angels on Thursday.
Rojas was sent down Monday and will lose his spot on the 40-man roster after Ryan Aguilar and Zack Weiss had their contracts selected Thursday. Rojas has hit just .188 with six homers, 27 runs, 16 RBI and two steals over 83 major-league games across the last two seasons, but he could remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Contract selected by Halos
Rotowire
Rojas had his contract selected by the Angels on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old was designated for assignment and sent to Triple-A by Los Angeles in late May, but he'll rejoin the big-league roster after Brandon Marsh was shipped to Philadelphia. Rojas has a .347 OPS in 23 plate appearances this year and could be headed back to the minors once trade acquisition Mickey Moniak officially joins the active roster.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Clears waivers
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Rojas cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Rojas was designated for assignment at the start of last week and will remain part of the Angels' organization. Given that he's a 29-year-old with a career .199/.261/.377 slash line in 68 games at the highest level, it's no surprise to see him pass through waivers unclaimed.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Rojas was designated for assignment by the Angels on Monday.
Rojas has been at Triple-A Salt Lake since early May, but he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster after he was recently reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list. Over 13 minor-league games this year, he's hit .224 with a triple, nine runs, six RBI and a stolen base.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Goes on Triple-A COVID-19 IL
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Triple-A Salt Lake placed Rojas on its COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Though he was optioned to Salt Lake on Friday, Rojas would have been a candidate to rejoin the Angels after infielder David Fletcher (hip) was placed on the injured list Sunday. However, Rojas' move to Salt Lake's COVID-19 IL will thwart those plans and prompt the Angels to bring Luis Rengifo up from Triple-A. The transaction also simultaneously opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Aaron Whitefield, whose contract was selected from Double-A Rocket City.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Sent back down
Rotowire
Rojas was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
He got into just one game during this latest stint in the majors. For the season, Rojas has a .130 average with zero home runs, zero steals and eight strikeouts in 23 at-bats.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Gets call to bigs
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The Angels recalled Rojas from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
In a corresponding move, Jo Adell was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, which will allow him to play on an everyday basis in the minors. Meanwhile, Rojas gives the big club some more defensive versatility, as he has experience at three infield spots and in the corner outfield. Rojas will likely join Adell at Salt Lake as soon as utility man Matt Duffy (illness) is cleared to return from the COVID-19 injured list.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rojas was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.
Rojas began the season on the major-league roster since Taylor Ward (groin) was on the injured list. The 29-year-old Rojas appeared in six games and hit .150 with two doubles, a run, an RBI and six strikeouts. He'll now head to the minors after Ward was reinstated from the 10-day IL on Saturday.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Wins Opening Day roster spot
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Rojas is on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rojas will take on a bench role for the Angels early in the regular season since Taylor Ward (groin) has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Rojas appeared in 61 major-league games last year and hit .208 with six homers, 26 runs, 15 RBI and two steals.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: In play for roster spot
Rotowire
Rojas has the "slight edge" for a spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster if the team decides to carry nine rather than 10 relief pitchers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Joe Maddon indicated Monday that Los Angeles is still deciding whether to carry nine or 10 relievers at the start of the season, and the team has yet to finalize its roster. If the Angels do indeed decide to go with a nine-man bullpen, Rojas is the slight favorite over Michael Stefanic to earn the team's final roster spot. The 29-year-old swung a hot bat this spring, slashing .444/.545/.926 with three home runs, eight RBI and a 6:3 BB:K.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Smacks third homer
Rotowire
Rojas went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in a 6-4 loss to the Mariners on Saturday.
Rojas took Seattle starter Chris Flexen deep to left in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1 but was removed in the seventh for a pinch hitter. The utility man is just 2-for-26 over his last nine games and is slashing .212/.278/.406 on the season.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Not starting Friday
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Rojas isn't in the lineup Friday against Seattle.
Rojas was in the starting nine for Thursday's contest and went 0-for-3 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts. Juan Lagares will take over in right field and bat seventh.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Sitting again Sunday
Rotowire
Rojas is on the bench Sunday against the Mariners.
This marks consecutive days on the bench for Rojas, who has gone 7-for-29 in his latest big-league stint. Juan Lagares will start in right field Sunday.
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Angels' Jose Rojas: Homers in win over White Sox
Rotowire
Rojas went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Thursday in a 9-3 victory over the White Sox. He was also caught stealing.
Rojas, who was recalled from Triple-A on Wednesday, received his first start with the big-league club since early July and responded with a productive afternoon. He singled in the second inning, then homered off Reynaldo Lopez in the fourth to extend the Angels' lead to 7-0. It was the fifth long ball of the year for Rojas, who is hitting just .220 with a .702 OPS in 141 plate appearances.
