February 29, 2024
The Tampa Bay Rays are working through the final stages of re-signing catcher
Francisco Mejia to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Mejia was released by the Los Angeles Angels last week, but this doesn't seem to change the plan for
Alex Jackson to be the backup to
Rene Pinto to open the 2024 regular season. At the very least, though, the addition of Mejia will give the Rays more depth at the catching position. Unless injuries open up significant playing time for the 28-year-old Mejia, he's not going to be on the fantasy radar this year. The switch-hitting Dominican backstop hit just .227 (34-for-150) with five homers and 19 RBI in 50 games played for the Rays in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
December 23, 2023
Francisco Mejia has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. The deal includes a spring training invite as well. Mejia put up a lackluster .227/.258/.400 batting line with five home runs and 19 RBI over 150 at-bats with Tampa Bay in 2023. He's shown some promise at the dish in years past but he's simply competing for a backup job to Angels' starting catcher
Logan O'Hoppe at this point in his career.
--Jon Mathisen - RotoBallerSource: Kiley McDaniel of ESPN
August 28, 2023
Tampa Bay Rays catcher
Francisco Mejia reportedly accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham and will remain with the organization for the time being. Mejia cleared waivers after being designated for assignment recently and will now report to Durham. The 27-year-old backstop remains under team control for next season, but there's a good chance he'll be looking to latch on with another organization this winter. Before being DFA'd last week, he was hitting .227/.258/.400 with five home runs, 11 doubles, 19 RBI and 22 runs scored in 160 trips to the plate over 50 games for the Rays in his third season with the team. For now, Tampa will roll with
Christian Bethancourt and
Rene Pinto as their catchers on the big-league roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
August 22, 2023
The Tampa Bay Rays activated catcher
Francisco Mejia (knee) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and then designated him for assignment. The Rays have decided to move on from Mejia after he recovered from a left-knee sprain. The 27-year-old Dominican backstop hit .227 (34-for-150) for the Rays this year with five home runs, 11 doubles, 19 RBI and 22 runs scored in 160 plate appearances and 50 games. Mejia should be able to latch on with another organization fairly quickly as catching depth. The Rays will move forward with a combination of
Christian Bethancourt and
Rene Pinto as their primary catchers at the big-league level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
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