TRADE: Tampa Bay Rays sign 28-years-old catcher to minor league deal
Tampa Bay Rays ink Francisco Mejia to a minor league contract
Another catcher joins the camp to contend for a place on the Opening Day lineup.
According to a report by Marc Topkin, the Tampa Bay Rays have brought back veteran catcher Francisco Mejia on a minor league contract.
Mejia, a 28-year-old catcher, has accumulated Major League experience over the last seven seasons, including the most recent three with the Rays. Originally picked up by the Cleveland Guardians as an international free agent in 2012, Mejia swiftly rose through the ranks to become one of the organization’s top prospects and one of the premier catching prospects across the league.
Notably, Mejia set a new record for a hitting streak in the minor leagues with an impressive 50-game run in 2016. His prospect ranking peaked in 2018 when he was positioned as the 20th best prospect heading into that season.
Mejia made his debut with Cleveland in 2017, where he struggled to exhibit the offensive prowess that initially boosted his prospect status. In 2018, the Guardians traded Mejia to the Padres, but he continued to face challenges in realizing his offensive potential during his time in San Diego.
Following the 2020 season, Mejia was part of the trade that saw Blake Snell move to the Padres and Mejia joining the Tampa Bay Rays. He assumed a role as a catcher for the Rays, participating in 227 games across three seasons and posting a stat line of .245/.285/.398 with 17 home runs, accumulating a 92 wRC+. Notably, Mejia had a standout year in 2021, but his performance declined in 2023, leading to him falling below replacement level and eventually being cut from the Rays roster.
On February 9th, Mejia inked a minor league agreement with the Los Angeles Angels, only to be released on February 24th. Speculation quickly arose about his potential return to the Rays, which has now materialized. Despite his rejoining the team, Marc Topkin’s report indicates that the Rays intend to retain Rene Pinto and Alex Jackson as their catching options for the Opening Day roster.
