AL Notes: Mejia Bellinger Yankees Carter Twins

Francisco Mejia was released by the Angels earlier today, and the veteran catcher has already in “initial talks” with the Rays about returning to Tampa, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Mejia spent the last three seasons in the Rays’ catching rotation, sharing time with Mike Zunino, Christian Bethancourt, and Rene Pinto, before Tampa Bay designated him for assignment in August and outrighted him off their 40-man roster.

Mejia elected to remain with the organization rather than pursue free agency following his outright assignment, but he became a free agent after the season and signed with the Angels on a minor level contract.

Pinto and Alex Jackson appear to be Tampa Bay’s favored catcher tandem entering the 2024 season, but the Rays were rumored to be looking for extra depth at the position.

Re-signing a familiar face like Mejia would seem like a sensible decision in that regard, even if a reunion with a catcher the Rays appeared to have moved on from last summer doesn’t offer much of an upgrade on a position that has been a problem for the team for years.

Mejia has a.239/.284/.394 batting line in 1098 career major league plate appearances, and the 28-year-old has rarely demonstrated the promise that made him a top prospect in the Cleveland and San Diego farm systems.

Here’s more from the American League.

The Yankees were linked to Cody Bellinger’s market early in the summer, even though the Juan Soto deal appeared to close the door on Bellinger’s chances in the Bronx well before Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs.

New York’s interest in Bellinger did not begin this offseason; the club considered signing Bellinger last winter, and The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney claims that the Yankees were also interested in acquiring Bellinger before to the previous trade deadline.

Bellinger was considered as a key trade chip for much of the first half, until the Cubs went on a strong streak and chose not to sell before the deadline, leaving suitors for some of Chicago’s veterans You’re out of luck. Of course, the Yankees’ fortunes altered, as the team’s midseason downturn prompted the front management to have a relatively quiet deadline, maybe as a recognition that the roster was more than one player short.

Evan Carter and the Rangers appear to have averted an injury scare today, with x-rays on the outfielder’s left forearm coming back negative, according to manager Bruce Bochy.

Carter was struck by Kyle Harrison during today’s Cactus League game and departed the field after a visit from the team trainer, but it looks that Carter is only sore. Carter, one of the top contenders for AL Rookie of the Year in 2024, made his MLB debut last September and immediately performed at a superstar level down the stretch and throughout the Rangers’ postseason run.

On paper, Carlos Santana and Alex Kirilloff form a first-base platoon for the Twins, but manager Rocco Baldelli told The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman and other reporters that “I don’t think of it as a traditional platoon in any way because one of our guys [Santana] is a switch hitter.”

Santana’s versatility allows for a variety of performance alternatives.It just provides us a lot of options.” Since Minnesota also wants to give Kirilloff at-bats and keep him healthy, the defensively superior Santana figures to get the most of the work at first base, and Kirilloff might be the designated hitter, with both players appearing in the same lineup on a regular basis.

Two wrist procedures and one shoulder surgery Kirilloff’s first three big league seasons were limited to 192 games and 706 PA, thus signing Santana on a one-year, $5.25MM contract allowed Minnesota to fortify the first base position.