The Angels released catcher Francisco Mejia from his minor league deal today, as noted by Sam Blum of The Athletic. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register adds that, according to manager Ron Washington, the club decided to part ways with Mejia after deciding they want to offer their young catchers additional at-bats and hoped to allow Mejia the opportunity to catch on with another club by releasing him early in Spring Training.
Mejia, 28, was once a consensus top-30 prospect in the game and was a key piece in two major trade deals in recent memory: the deadline swap that shipped relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from San Diego to Cleveland and the more famous blockbuster that saw the Padres acquire Blake Snell from the Rays just months after the club secured the 2020 AL pennant. At the time of his arrival in Tampa, Mejia had made just 362 trips to the plate throughout his four years in the majors, slashing just .225/.282/.386 during that time. That unimpressive slash line didn’t stop the Rays from installing Mejia as their primary catcher, however.
Upon getting playing time behind the plate in Tampa, Mejia took a step forward to become a roughly league average hitter behind the plate, slashing .251/.292/.397 in 576 trips to the plate between the 2021 and ’22 seasons, though that 95 wRC+ combined with generally negative reviews for his glove work behind the plate made him more of an average regular than the potential star his prospect pedigree once suggested. Even that level of production proved unsustainable for Mejia in 2023, however. Mejia split time with Christian Bethancourt behind the plate throughout the first half last year, though he struggled to a .227/.258/.400 slash line in 50 games before his time with the big league Rays came to an abrupt end in late July due to an MCL sprain.
While Mejia managed to return in mid-July, by that point his role on the Rays had been taken over by youngster Rene Pinto, leaving the Rays to outright Mejia off the 40-man roster. He finished out the season at the Triple-A level, hitting a solid .293/.324/.525 in 105 trips to the plate at the level before electing free agency at the start of the offseason. His first trip through free agency brought him to the Angels, where he entered camp as the likely third catcher on the club’s depth chart behind Logan O’Hoppe and Matt Thaiss. Based on Washington’s recent comments, however, it appears the Halos are comfortable with fellow non-roster invitee Chad Wallach as a veteran depth option behind the plate and hope to offer the likes of Caleb Hamilton and Zach Humphreys opportunities during camp.
That’s left Mejia in search of a job for the second time this offseason, though it’s unlikely he’ll remain on the open market for long. Teams are always looking for veteran catching depth on minor league deals given the unique demands of the position, and Mejia’s previous prospect pedigree and past success as a regular with the Rays figure to make him one of the more attractive depth options at the position available in free agency at this stage of the winter.
Maybe he can sign with the Rockies, their catchers are an abomination
As are some of their fielders, Rockies could be a landing spot for him because once again, the Rockies look to be a dumpster fire in 2024
He’s too expensive for the Padres to pick up.
Padres roster as constructed is an absolute train wreck.
Padres lack a:
CF(Bellinger would have been nice)
LF
1B
DH
1 to 2 starters
Bench depth.
The Padres absolutely refuse to add any payroll whatsoever.
0 and 3 in spring training so far being outscored 29 to 9.
Yes, it’s spring training but you can still get a feel for the season.
Pads have yet to win a game and that streak will continue.
Maybe the Padres are poor and need to take up a collection
However I suggested the Rockies and I did that because I watched the Replay of the Diamondbacks and Rockies this morning
The Padres just banked on that big TV money so much, was advanced spending 3 and 4 yrs of future Bally Sports deal that is not there now, when Bally pulled out, the big contract payments still exist. They spent outside their market , they had to cut back on high price players until they get a better handle on their payroll.
Except for competing with LAD shouldn’t SDP have enough offense to compete for a WC? Their SPs are solid, relievers TBD/unproven granted. Take a page from AZ and try to get more SBs improve defense in the outfield. Give a young player a real chance. Don’t overreact at the first slump. Just some thoughts. I don’t know SDP as well as some other commenters like Gwynning.
AJ sure won the Snell trade
The Padres finances were so dire they had to tap a third-party lender to meet short-term obligations (payroll & more) that they were going to default on but for the loan. The team wanted a $100M loan but MLB deemed that the team’s debt was so great they would only approve $50M b/c of the current debt risk. That is/was a serious issue going forward. They probably aren’t in compliance with the debt service rule. These cost cutting measures might not be a one year thing.
I mentioned this before, but wonder if Peter Seidler knew about his health issues and said payroll be dammed, wanted to leave a legacy for San Diego and go all in to bring them a championship… hence AJ “the rockstar GM” Preller’s reckless and often weird/head scratching moves. Seidler could have chosen someone else to make shorter, yet more practical choices.
I wonder if they will try to move another of the big 4. I know all three are albatross contracts, but trade deadline fire sale might be in order.
Wasn’t Elias Diaz an All-Star last season?
Oh he was, I forgot, but the Rockies catcher tried to pick off a D’Back off of second base and it eventually cost the Rockies two runs
Maybe, Mejia could back up
The Rockies only all-star last year was their catcher and he was the MVP of the game. He’s only average in reality, but he’s hardly their main problem and they have an excellent prospect C currently in AA. Mejia might not make their AAA team.
Mejia can at least get a minor league deal and get a chance
Nothing more
I hope he signs with Miami. He and Bethancourt were Tampa’s backstop tandem last year. Let them do it for Miami in 2024 haha.
Bizarre. The two young catchers who need at bats are O’Hoppe and Thaiss. He wasn’t in their way.
O’Hoppe was doing well last year until he got hurt, hopefully Angels get a full season out of him this year!
@halosheaven yeah doesn’t make sense unless they release wallach, I guess it was a nice way of saying we didn’t like what we saw in one spring training game, did notice Washington with a clipboard writing down notes for everything.
I don’t find it to bizarre JJ. They did a “good”, for a player to get more looks in spring. Like Wash said, giving the likes of Caleb Hamilton and Zach Humphreys opportunities during camp. They already know what the pretty much have in other 3 catchers.
And he isn’t even older than Thaiss!
what did you want them to say?
Angels: We feel Mejia stinks so we are not even going to try to give at bats to this also ran. He is bench fodder at best so we are cutting him now to save us the trouble of seeing this wreck on the field.
Would that be what you wanted them to say?
Data – doesn’t matter to me but to say yoh want to give young guys AB’s and 1 of the 2 named aren’t younger, just seems odd or inconsistent.
Mejia does have some baggage which is what I suspect is going on.
But whatever, I just thought it was a valid point to say 1 of the 2 weren’t actually younger.
Datashark, obviously nobody says that, even if it’s partially true. That’s just flat out terrible PR.
But at the end of the day, it was doing him a good in this situation, in releasing him early and giving him more spring looks for himself and other teams, rather than rotting on the pine most of spring.
@Datashark it really doesn’t matter, but they could’ve said we released meija decided to go in a different direction. Just pointing out that he wasn’t old. My first post did say it was Washington being nice, and this way he can be a 3rd catcher for a team.
Mejia has a reputation for being uncoachable, perhaps Washington and the Angels figured out quickly that its true
probably witnessed his defensive skills – realized that everyone can steal off him
Haha he was playing yesterday, just saw him bat. Washington was taking notes, and watching the game like a Hawk. Nevin looked like he was zoned out after the first.
The new rules don’t help limited defensive catchers.
Yeah, but Mejia has zero shot taking AB from the youngsters if he did make it, so let him go and let him catch on someone else that could use his AB. At least they were thinking of his future.
Well that was quick!
Braves should sign him he would be an improvement over Chadwick Tromp as our number 3 catcher in AAA
Chadwick is a better at defense because with mejia you are giving a double to everyone who walks to first.
I’m glad we’re talking about this and not having signed Bellinger to 3-year deal.
Padres could also use him in AAA
Nope nope nope and been there done that.
No reason to add there. Valenzuela is better defensively and not much worse offensively and then there is Brett Sullivan with Ethan Salas at AA just waiting to prove he deserves AAA.
Sullivan can’t hit his weight anf Valenzuela is unproven. It is an improvement on our 3rd C in AAA
Just like Angels preferring a young guy – Padres and Valenzuela – how do you get to be “proven” if you don’t play?
I think Padres know what Mejia provides and he was uncoachable per reports back then. They wanted him to work on LF to get regular AB’s.
Sullivan hit .328 in AAA in 2023.
Just saying he doesn’t look that heavy. LOL.
The Pads have enviable catching depth and prospects
@plugnplay just looked at the ages and meija is 28, the same age as Thaiss. Hamilton is 29, and Humphrey is 26. It’s just weird he said young players, but I get what you’re saying this meant he was the 4th catcher and they’re comfortable with the other guys
Surprising move. The Angels are thin at catching and God forbid O’Hoppe gets injured again as it’ll be Thaiss and Wallach combo again this season.
The Rockies or even the Orioles might be a good landing spot for Francisco. Rockies appear old as dirt and the depth is as thin as the mountain air. Maybe his bat plays better in Colorado than other places.
The Orioles could just balance him against Micheal Perez at AAA, as it was in Tampa Bay. Either could get the call if McCann pulls/strains something this season.
How much of a disruptive influence did he have to be for the Angels to cut him loose?
The Halos might just be doing him solid by cutting him loose; Mejia may have even said something like “I’ve got interested teams…” and the Angels wouldn’t be able to retain him in the Minors. (Probable contract language)
Im sure there was language in the contract that said he would have to be released if not on the major league roster by a certain point, but he’s been in camp less than a week.
When he was with Tampa he would regularly have shouting matches with Moncada when they would try to teach him.
Cleveland traded him because he refused to try left field even though he was blocked at catcher.
You would have a better take on his time with the Padres. Its my understanding that he was completely unteachable there.
Seems to be a pattern with him.
He was catching in the 8th, and had two passed balls, back to back. Washington said that wasn’t the reason but sounds like it was.
I’ve seen it since Day 1, Mejia is a bad receiver. He stabs at it and wonders why his hands aren’t soft enough… he just need to let the ball travel a tad further. Anyway, all that aside, Mejia just might have to transition to a 5th OFer/3rd Backstop-type of role to stay up.
Frankie’s a tool I’ve heard this from multiple coach’s and prospects in Rays camp
“Catch” on with another club? was that wording intentional Nick Deeds?
The Angels are not going to keep three catcher’s. What’s the point of keeping him around only to lose him. I don’t believe he has any options left.
@halo11fan he’s on a minor league deal unless he has language in his contract to be called up at a certain point in the year, he could stay in the minors. Still get your point he’s expendable, but it’s not because they have young catchers he’s blocking, he’s just not a catcher
I don’t understand the roster rules as well as some. But wouldn’t they have to at least put him on the 40 man roster to keep him?
@halo11fan I don’t think so, I know lamb had to be called up at some point or he could opt out. He could of had something like that, and with his performance they said goodbye. I doubt wallach has anything in his contract he knows he’s a third string catcher at this point.
Might’ve to pump the brakes, but pomeranz came in and looked really good, had a lot of movement on his pitches and created a lot of swing and misses.
Looks like Chad Wallach is their preferred backup behind Logan O”Hoppe and Matt Thais. Since he was up last year, I’d say the starting pitchers may already be comfortable with him behind the dish.
Maybe Being coachable is a skill that Mejia may not have, and it would be my estimated guess that Coach Washington probably values that a lot!
Hopefully Mejia can catch on somewhere else since he’s still young and be able to blossom.
@alex wondering if he had a opt out on his minor league deal, but he only had a inning yesterday and looked like crap defensively with two passed balls that could’ve done him in.
CLE should take a flyer on him!
38 for 42 in Stolen bases in 380 innings ain’t what you want in your back up C. He was at 23-25% before new rules. Then his offense in below average.