The Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League announced that they have signed right-hander Joey Krehbiel to a contract for the 2026 season. Krehbiel (who turned 33 in December) elected to become a minor league free agent in November after spending the 2025 season pitching with the Rays’ and Royals’ Triple-A affiliates.
A veteran of four MLB seasons, Krehbiel made his big league debut in the form of a two-game cup of coffee with the Diamondbacks in 2018, then didn’t return to the majors until 2021. Of his 70 career appearances and 74 career innings, the big majority of that work came in 2022, when Krehbiel posted a 3.70 ERA, 18.4% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate over 56 games and 57 2/3 innings out of the Orioles’ bullpen. He only pitched in six games with Baltimore in 2023 (posting a 1.80 ERA across five innings), however, as the O’s shuttled him back and forth from Triple-A multiple times and twice designated Krehbiel for assignment and outrighted him over the course of the year.
This marked Krehbiel’s last bit of Major League action, as minor league contracts with the Mariners and Rays over the last two offseasons didn’t result in another call-up. The Royals also never called the righty up after acquiring him from Tampa in a trade last July. Krehbiel pitched pretty well with Triple-A Tacoma in 2024 but struggled last year to the tune of a 5.34 ERA over 57 1/3 IP in the Tampa and K.C. farm systems, though that ERA was inflated by some bad batted-ball luck — Krehbiel’s 50% grounder rate was counteracted by a .346 BABIP.
The right-hander will now look to get back on track with the Guerreros in the new environment of Mexican League ball. Because Mexican League contracts generally have out clauses, some solid work early in the season could get Krehbiel some attention from another MLB team on another minors deal.
Couldn’t pay me enough to play in any Mexican league these days.
I find that hard to believe.
If he gets his ERA to the mid 4’s I’d consider it a success last years Mexican league was insanely hitter friendly.
Trevor was so dominant .
10-0 with a 2.48 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. Named the 2024 Pitcher of the Year, he set a league record with 19 strikeouts in a single game on June 21 and tied another by striking out nine consecutive batters.
Other signings I’ve seen that haven’t been posted here for the Mexican league this year include Luis Guillorme, Greg Allen, Seth Beer, Edwin Rios, Logan Allen (not the current guardian the old one), Amir Garrett, Joan Adon, Robert Gsellman, Luarbert Arias, Alan Trejo, Miguel Castro, Matthew Batten, Jose De Leon, Victor Gonzalez, Cal Stevenson, Jonathan Bermudez, Estevan Florial, Tyler Ivey, Nick Gordon, Luis Patino and Anthony Gose. I’m sure more will sign these are just the notable big leaguers that are joining for this season.