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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Two hits in win
Rotowire
Mejia went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's win over the Red Sox.
Mejia is now 5-for-11 in his last three games following a 2-for-20 slump in his previous seven contests. The 27-year-old backstop is slashing .226/.267/.333 with one homer, seven RBI, and 16 runs scored through 101 plate appearances while splitting catching duties with Christian Bethancourt in Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Pops first homer
Rotowire
Mejia went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Saturday's 12-3 victory over the White Sox.
Mejia missed out on the fun in the Rays' 10-run seventh inning, but he still hit a solo shot in the eighth inning. It was Mejia's first hit since April 18, ending an 0-for-12 stretch. The catcher is slashing .200/.260/.311 while sharing duties behind the plate with Christian Bethancourt.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Four hits in win
Rotowire
Mejia went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Reds.
Mejia was locked in despite not playing in the Rays' last two games. The 27-year-old catcher has been solid in limited playing time, slashing .276/.353/.345 with four RBI and eight runs scored in 29 at-bats. Still, Mejia won't likely offer much value for fantasy purposes while splitting duties behind the plate with Christian Bethancourt.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Hits bench after two-hit day
Rotowire
Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will take a seat after he turned in his most productive game of the season in Saturday's 11-0 win. While making his fourth start in the Rays' first eight contests, Mejia went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and two runs. He looks like he'll continue to split time behind the dish with Christian Bethancourt -- who gets the start Sunday -- in relatively equitable fashion.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Hits not coming
Rotowire
Mejia has only three hits across 18 at-bats in Grapefruit League action.
Mejia also played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, though he managed only one hit in seven at-bats at the tournament. His slow spring performance won't jeopardize his spot on the Rays' roster, and Christian Bethancourt -- Mejia's primary competition for playing time -- has also struggled this spring. The duo could equally split time behind the dish to begin the regular season as a result.
