Headlines

  • Braves To Extend Orlando Arcia
  • Athletics Trade Cristian Pache To Phillies
  • Pirates, Bryan Reynolds Continue To Discuss Extension; Start Of Regular Season Reportedly Seen As Deadline
  • MLB, MLBPA Reach Tentative Agreement On Minor League CBA
  • Guardians, Trevor Stephan Agree To Four-Year Extension
  • Cubs Sign Nico Hoerner To Three-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rays Activate Francisco Mejia, Designate Kevan Smith

By Anthony Franco | May 16, 2021 at 10:02am CDT

The Rays are reinstating catcher Francisco Mejía from the 10-day injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was among those to pass along (Twitter link). Fellow backstop Kevan Smith was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Mejía went on the IL last week with left intercostal discomfort. It proved to be a minimal stay, as he returns ten days later to again pair with Mike Zunino behind the plate. Acquired from the Padres over the winter as part of the Blake Snell return, Mejía has gotten off to a fine start with his new team. Over his first 67 plate appearances, the switch-hitter has slashed .300/.348/.450 with a home run. That’s a rather significant improvement over the .225/.282/.386 mark he carried as a big leaguer entering 2021.

Obviously, Mejía will need more than a month of strong performance to cement himself as a foundational piece for the Rays, but he certainly carries the pedigree to do so. Mejía was once regarded among the top prospects in baseball as a potentially impactful bat-first catcher. He’s still just 25 years old and making contact at a career-best clip so far, although he hasn’t tamped down the overaggressive approach that contributed to his prior big league struggles.

With Mejía and Zunino healthy, the Rays determined there wasn’t place on the active roster for Smith, who is out of minor league option years. The 32-year-old was selected to the roster when Mejía went on the IL and only picked up five plate appearances over the past week-plus. The Rays now have a week to trade or waive Smith, who has been in the Tampa Bay organization over the past two seasons. Having previously been outrighted in his career, Smith would have the right to elect free agency in lieu of a minor league assignment if he clears waivers.

Share 0 Retweet 3 Send via email0

Tampa Bay Rays Transactions Francisco Mejia Kevan Smith

Yankees Place Aaron Hicks On Injured List, Select Ryan LaMarre
Main
Latest On Yankees, COVID-19
View Comments (15)

Comments

  1. MetsFan22

    2 years ago

    I remember I was saying that syndergaard and carrasco coming back would make a difference and everyone told me told me it wouldn’t bc our team era is low. Luchechii has now blown 3 games where we had a nice lead of 3-4 runs where we would have easily won with any of the other two pitchers. Watch out when we throw a under 4 era pitcher everyday in a month. We pull away with the east.

    Reply
    • itsallbravesnation

      2 years ago

      I read the article. Am I missing something?

      Reply
    • Col_chestbridge

      2 years ago

      Are you lost? This has nothing to do with the Mets.

      Reply
      • Sideline Redwine

        2 years ago

        If you are from NY or a fan of any if their teams, then nothing else matters. NY this, NY that. Part of the country lies west of New York? Nah.

        They are the center of the universe. Just ask them.

        Reply
        • alc47

          2 years ago

          Sideline that’s not true for me. Metsfan22 is a very poor representation of Mets fan imo.

        • Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)

          2 years ago

          No not rlly. Most Mets fans are like that. It’s annoying but I’ve seen worse then MetsFan22. He used to be way worse but he has calmed down a little bit which I respect.

        • Cosmo2

          2 years ago

          I’d say it’s not true about Mets fans when it comes to baseball, but it is true about New Yorkers in general when it comes to everything else.

    • raz427

      2 years ago

      *sees Mets players’ averages*

      I will take the amazin seriously when they have a hitter qualified for the batting title, hitting over .260. Never seen so much boasting of a team who is the B team In nyc.

      Reply
  2. Col_chestbridge

    2 years ago

    I think Mejia is a good long term play by the Rays. With his bat speed, I assume eventually he will figure out how to hit. The knock has always been his defense. He blocks well enough and has a good pop time and arm, the problem is his framing is terrible. But if and when robo umps become a thing, Mejia might become a very valuable catcher. Assuming he can stay healthy- the Indians org famously didn’t think he would given his smaller frame.

    Reply
    • DrDan75

      2 years ago

      Mejia has been under the microscope for a long time due to his (former) status as a high-level prospect, first for the Indians and then for the Padres as a replacement for Austin Hedges.

      Many talented players in these circumstances never amount to much in the bigs due to the enormous pressure. Mejia is getting a chance to just play in TB without all of the lofty expectations and he’s starting to perform.

      Reply
  3. alc47

    2 years ago

    Hopefully Mejia puts it together, wouldn’t be surprised because it seems like Tampa always knows something the rest of the league doesn’t. I love a good hitting catcher, does anyone know how much longer Mejia is under team control?

    Reply
    • therealryan

      2 years ago

      He’s under team control through 2024.

      Reply
      • Polish Hammer

        2 years ago

        Which will be when they realize he’s not the answer behind the plate and put him somewhere else.

        Reply
  4. Steve 34

    2 years ago

    2025

    Reply
  5. Biff

    2 years ago

    Smith would be upgrade for seattle

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Braves To Extend Orlando Arcia

    Athletics Trade Cristian Pache To Phillies

    Pirates, Bryan Reynolds Continue To Discuss Extension; Start Of Regular Season Reportedly Seen As Deadline

    MLB, MLBPA Reach Tentative Agreement On Minor League CBA

    Guardians, Trevor Stephan Agree To Four-Year Extension

    Cubs Sign Nico Hoerner To Three-Year Extension

    Daniel Murphy Signs With Long Island Ducks

    Guardians, Andrés Giménez Finalizing Seven-Year, $106.5MM Extension

    Brewers Sign Luke Voit To One-Year Deal

    Guardians Discussing Extensions With Multiple Players

    Cristian Pache Will Not Make Athletics’ Roster; A’s Exploring Trade Scenarios

    Triston McKenzie Shut Down For At Least Two Weeks With Teres Major Strain

    Yankees To Select Anthony Volpe’s Contract

    Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker

    Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

    Luke Voit Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With The Brewers

    Mets Sign Dylan Bundy To Minor League Deal

    Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians

    Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas To Two-Year Extension

    Keston Hiura Will Not Make Brewers’ Roster

    Recent

    Braves To Extend Orlando Arcia

    Athletics Trade Cristian Pache To Phillies

    Padres’ Third Base Coach Matt Williams Taking Leave Of Absence After Colon Cancer Diagnosis

    White Sox Notes: Hendriks, Right Field, Colas, Garcia

    Pirates, Bryan Reynolds Continue To Discuss Extension; Start Of Regular Season Reportedly Seen As Deadline

    MLB, MLBPA Reach Tentative Agreement On Minor League CBA

    Guardians, Trevor Stephan Agree To Four-Year Extension

    Padres To Select David Dahl

    Offseason In Review: Colorado Rockies

    Twins Select Willi Castro

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version