Mejia signed a one-year, $2.155 million contract with the Rays on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Mejia took a step back at the plate in 2022 with just a .645 OPS, and at this point it's difficult to see him turning into an everyday catcher. He will share time behind the dish with Christian Bethancourt in 2023.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Back from paternity list
Rotowire
Mejia (personal) was activated from the paternity list Friday and is on the Rays' roster for the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.comreports.
The 26-year-old was placed on the paternity list Tuesday and will rejoin the team after spending a few days with his family. Mejia is on the bench for Game 1 in Cleveland on Friday with Christian Bethancourt starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Lands on paternity list
Rotowire
Mejia was placed on the paternity list Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
This ends Mejia's regular season. The switch-hitting backstop slashed .242/.264/.381 with six home runs, 32 runs and 31 RBI in 93 games. Rene Pinto was recalled to take Mejia's place on the roster.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Makes start at DH
Rotowire
Mejia will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will pick up his fourth start in five games, this time in a non-defensive role after he worked behind the plate Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Though he's seen an uptick in work of late, Mejia owns a pedestrian .596 OPS since the start of September and still looks to be the Rays' No. 2 option at catcher behind Christian Bethancourt.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Mejia isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Guardians.
Mejia has lost out on playing time recently and will be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last five games. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate and batting seventh.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Mejia is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Guardians.
Mejia has started five of the last 12 games. Christian Bethancourt, who has started six of the last 12 games, will start behind the dish and bat seventh.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Mejia is not in Sunday's lineup against the Blue Jays.
Mejia is in a 4-for-27 (.148 AVG) slump over his last nine games. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the dish, hitting seventh.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Mejia isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will hand off catching duties to Christian Bethancourt, who will bat seventh as the two backstops continue to alternate starts.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Mejia isn't starting Wednesday against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts Tuesday and will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Rene Pinto is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Sits in favor of Bethancourt
Rotowire
Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will take a seat for the second game in a row while Christian Bethancourt continues to push him for playing time at catcher. Since Mejia returned from a stint on the injured list Aug. 5, he's started 22 games behind the plate compared to Bethancourt's 19.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Mejia is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rangers, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia is hitting .321 with four doubles in nine games this month. Christian Bethancourt is starting at catcher and hitting sixth Sunday.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Doubles twice, drives in two
Rotowire
Mejia went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI on Friday against the Rangers.
Mejia accounted for the majority of the Rays' offense by delivering an RBI single in the second inning, followed by a run-scoring double four frames later. The performance ended a three-game hitless stretch, spanning 10 at-bats. For the season, Mejia has maintained a .260/.280/.408 line across 271 plate appearances.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Mejia isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia has alternated starts behind the dish recently and will retreat to the bench after he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Tuesday's nightcap. Christian Bethancourt is starting at catcher and batting seventh.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Mejia will sit Friday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia has gone 6-for-11 over his last four games but nonetheless finds himself sitting for the third time in five contests. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the plate.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Sits for third time in four games
Rotowire
Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will sit for the third time in four games while Christian Bethancourt gets another turn behind the dish. The Rays haven't yet indicated that Bethancourt is their preferred option behind the plate, but expect a roughly even timeshare between the two backstops to remain in place for the time being. Mejia hasn't bolstered his case for earning a larger share of the playing time by slashing .254/.302/.339 in 18 games since he returned from the injured list Aug. 5.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Mejia is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia went 2-for-3 with a run scored during Saturday's contest and will take a seat for the series finale. Christian Bethancourt will work behind the plate and bat seventh Sunday.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Mejia will be on the bench Friday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia sits after starting two straight games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the plate.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: On bench again
Rotowire
Mejia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia will take a seat for the second game in a row while Christian Bethancourt gets another turn behind the plate. The two backstops may be moving into a timeshare at the position after Mejia went 0-for-12 across his last three starts.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Riding pine Saturday
Rotowire
Mejia isn't starting Saturday against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against Boston and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate and batting sixth.
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Rays' Francisco Mejia: Gets rest Thursday
Rotowire
Mejia will sit Thursday versus the Angels, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout in Wednesday's win. The red-hot Christian Bethancourt will replace him behind the plate and bat sixth in the series finale.
