The Angels announced Tuesday that they’ve designated left-hander Adalberto Mejia for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to catcher Jason Castro, whose previously reported one-year deal is now official.
Mejia, incredibly, has been designated for assignment five times in the past five months — including three times by the Angels. The former Top 100 prospect has bounced from the Twins (where he and Castro were teammates), to the Angels, to the Cardinals back to the Angels in a series of summer waiver claims. Mejia cleared waivers when the Halos designated him in August, but he returned to the 40-man roster as a September call-up just a few days later.
The 26-year-old Mejia was unscored upon in 9 1/3 minor league innings across multiple organizations this year but was hit hard in the Majors, logging a 6.61 ERA (4.97 FIP, 5.98 xFIP) with an ugly 30-to-21 K/BB ratio in 31 1/3 innings. He did make 21 respectable starts for the Twins in 2017 (4.50 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 4.0 BB/9) at just 24 years of age, creating some optimism that he could settle in as the fourth starter he’d been projected as in the upper minors. But blister issues and a left wrist injury shortened Mejia’s 2018 season, and he wasn’t able to regain his footing in 2019.
Clubs seeking rotation depth and/or left-handed relief candidates could well take a look at Mejia now that he’s once again available at little to no cost, but he’s also out of minor league options, so he’ll have to break camp with a team or else be designated for assignment for a staggering sixth time in a nine-month span.
feel like Mejia would benefit from some time back in the minors.
I agree.
He’ll be back on the Halos
He’s out of options, which is likely why he’s been passed around.
Should of been Noe Ramirez
Huh? Noe has been one of the Angels’ best relievers over the past 2 years…
Noe rules he’s like a ROOGY
This is the 40 man roster, not the 26 man roster. If the Angels drop Noe Ramirez, they don’t get him back… He’s gone.
They can technically resign an out of options DFA player if no other team claims him. He could pitch in the minors but in order to make it back to the show, he’d need to be added back to the 40 man. Red Sox did this with both Rusney Castillo and Bryce Brentz.
Noe blew more leads, than any other Angels reliever last season. And please don’t quote Blown Saves. Noe would come in with a one run lead, walk the first batter, give up a single to the next hitter. Then get pulled and get credit for a hold. The next guy in entices a double play. But gets hit with a blown save, because the guy scored from third while he was on the mound. Noe is only good, when the game is out of reach.
This is just incorrect in so many ways.
He’s in a tough spot being out of options, but he’s worth an invite to big league camp and a look.
In fact, he’s more likely to pass through waivers at the end of camp when everybody else is trying to squeeze guys through.
His raw stuff looks good too. It has to be mental with this guy.
I feel like a fourth option year needs to be considered in the future (aside from the handful of players that are granted one).
The players probably wouldn’t agree to it, but it stunts a player’s development when they’re constantly in limbo and can’t work through issues in the minors. The guys who are out of options are usually the first ones to get booted off the 40-man roster too.
its should be negotiable in Minor League contracts.
Gabby Jay! YAY!
This guy is literally a yo-yo. Orioles, Marlins, or Tigers to give him an extended look for pitching needy teams at the deadline
The Marlins don’t actually have terrible pitching, for what it’s worth. Maybe he’d fit in their bullpen, but they have some really intriguing young starters (plus a few more in the minors) and I liked the Sterling Sharp add for them. The Orioles and Tigers could at least theoretically give him a chance to start.
Would any teams consider signing a pitcher described as “rotation depth” after the Angels, a team desperate for starting pitching, DFAs them? That’s gotta bode poorly.
He didn’t start a single game last year. The Angels didn’t need a left handed RP.
Maybe git gud?
Wow, I remember when this guy was like #1 in the Giants’ barren farm system and was traded for E. Nunez in ’16 when the Giants were “going for it”. Guess not much came of him these past few years. Still a young guy, though. Wish him the best.
I am guessing our lineup looks something like this…….
VS RHP
1. 2B La Stella
2. CF Trout
3 3B Rendon
4. DH Ohtani
5. LF Upton
6 RF Goodwin
7. SS Simmons
8. 1B Thaiss
9. C Castro
VS LHP
1. 2B Fletcher
2. CF Trout
3. 3B Rendon
4 DH Ohtani
5. LF Upton
6. 1B Pujols
7. SS Simmons
8 RF Goodwin
9 C Stassi
La Stella can’t play second base. Fletcher is a gold glove type player. Fletcher should play at second base every day. I’m hoping Maddon is smarter than putting La Stella at second.
I thought about that as well. In reality, I believe La Stella is going to get playing time at 2nd, 1st, and 3rd . Particularly, when Ohtani is off the day before and after he pitches and they need another left hand bat. I need to see if that power surge is real. La Stella was neck and neck with Trout for team lead in HRs through the first 2 months of the season. He made up for the lack of power of the trashcan Bour and helped us win games. La Stella has never been that guy, but need to see if last year was a aberration or if he can repeat.
Instead of saying that a player was “designated for assignment,” should MLB Trade Rumors just start saying the player was “Mejiaed”? Adalberto Mejia is to the DFA category what Mario Mendoza is to a .200 batting average (the Mendoza line)
Lol