Molina was suspended for the rest of the 2018 season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Molina was released by the Mets in July and helps explain why the 23-year-old has failed to latch on with another organization. His suspension will end at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign, so he should be able to find a club heading into next year, though a 6.94 ERA in the minors this past season won't help.
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Marcos Molina: Released by Mets
Rotowire
Molina was released by the Mets on Wednesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The 23-year-old struggled to a 6.94 ERA in 81.2 innings split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas this season. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Matt den Dekker, whose contract was selected Wednesday.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Molina was optioned to minor-league camp Tuesday, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.
The 23-year-old righty is expected to open the season in the upper minors after splitting time between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in 2017. Molina posted a solid 3.21 ERA across 106.2 innings between both stops. He should benefit from some extra seasoning in the minors this season after struggling to a 6.75 ERA over three spring appearances.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Missed start of season with lat strain
Rotowire
Molina has 33 strikeouts in 37.0 innings with Double-A Binghamton after getting a late start to the season due to a lat strain, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.
After missing all of 2016 due to Tommy John surgery, Molina's return to action was pushed even further back because of a lat strain. Once he returned though, he impressed with High-A St. Lucie in six games (five starts) with 23 strikeouts over 28.2 innings with a 1.26 ERA. His ERA has jumped to 4.14 since his promotion to Double-A, but the increased strikeout rate from one level to the other is a sign of a bright future for one of the Mets' top pitching prospects.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Solid in first two starts
Rotowire
Molina, 22, has a 3.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB in his first two starts (nine innings) with High-A St. Lucie.
This is his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2015 season, and so far he has been reasonably sharp. Molina was a top-200 prospect prior to the injury, profiling as a potential No. 3 starter.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Sharp in spring opener
Rotowire
Molina pitched two shutout innings Friday in the Mets' Grapefruit League opener against the Red Sox, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. He retired Andrew Benintendi, Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley in order in the fourth inning.
The Mets' No. 9 prospect in RotoWire's rankings, Molina missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but it looks like all systems are go heading into 2017. The 21-year-old will need to stay healthy to capitalize on the upside suggested by his raw stuff, including a plus changeup and a fastball that touched 96 mph prior to his surgery. Look for the Mets to limit his workload this season, but a strong showing could put him in line for a 2018 big league debut.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Molina (elbow) was added to the Mets' 40-man roster on Friday, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.
The Mets protected Molina from the Rule 5 draft, as expected. He underwent Tommy John surgery in October of 2015, and did not return to game action until this year's Arizona Fall League. His fastball sat in the low-90s and topped out at 94 mph in the AFL, and he posted a 8:7 K:BB in 16.2 innings. Molina carries plenty of risk given his occupation, injury history and the fact he has not pitched above High-A, but if he can return to his pre-injury form he would still project as a mid-rotation starter.
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Mets' Marcos Molina: Out for 2016
Rotowire
Molina underwent Tommy John surgery after the end of the season, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.
Molina dealt with an elbow issue earlier in the season, but returned to High-A St. Lucie in August. The 20-year-old had been viewed as the top pitching prospect in the organization following several promotions and trades, but he'll now miss the entire 2016 season and will attempt to come back in 2017.
