Mejia (suspension) was non-tendered by the Brewers on Friday.
Mejia has been hit with a PED suspension in each of the last two seasons, the latest being of the 162-game variety. He won't be eligible to appear in a major-league game again until the very end of the 2024 campaign and could have trouble attracting suitors in free agency.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Hit with 162-game PED suspension
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Major League Baseball suspended Mejia (shoulder) for 162 games Wednesday following a positive test for Stanozolol, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Mejia was caught using the very same anabolic steroid last season and received an 80-game ban. The 27-year-old right-hander owns a rough 8.32 ERA in 66 career major-league innings and won't be eligible to return to a big-league mound until the tail end of the 2024 campaign. He appeared in nine games for the Brewers this year before being shut down in mid-August due to shoulder inflammation.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Brewers transferred Mejia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
Since Mejia's IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 14, his 2023 season is effectively over. The 27-year-old right-hander recently headed to the Brewers' facility in Arizona to begin his rehab program, but Milwaukee apparently wasn't convinced that Mejia was going to be a realistic option for the bullpen down the stretch. By shifting Mejia to the 60-day IL, the Brewers were able to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for third baseman/designated hitter Josh Donaldson, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Nashville.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Heading to Arizona for rehab
Rotowire
Mejia (shoulder) reported to the Brewers' spring training facility in Arizona on Sunday to continue workouts, MLB.com reports.
Mejia had been shut down for about two weeks after landing on the 15-day injured list Aug. 15 with right shoulder inflammation, but he looks set to begin a throwing program this week. He'll likely need to complete a rehab assignment before being activated from the IL, so Mejia presumably won't be a realistic option for the Milwaukee bullpen for at least a couple more weeks.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Milwaukee placed Mejia on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Aug. 14, with right shoulder inflammation.
Mejia had yielded five earned runs over his last three innings (two appearances) out of the Brewers' bullpen. The 26-year-old will be on the shelf until at least Aug. 29.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Tosses two scoreless frames
Rotowire
Mejia tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Thursday's 14-1 victory over the Pirates. He allowed two hits, struck out four and walked none.
Mejia has not been used much in key spots since joining Milwaukee's bullpen early last month, but he has been effective when summoned, posting a 2.16 ERA and 10:2 K:BB in 8.1 innings over seven appearances. Although he is near the bottom of the pecking order, he is out of minor-league options, which bodes well for his chances of hanging onto a roster spot.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Selected to MLB bullpen
Rotowire
Milwaukee selected Mejia's contract from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Mejia holds an ugly 8.89 ERA in 54.2 career innings of work at the MLB level, but he'll get another shot with the Brewers after delivering a 3.86 ERA and 32:13 K:BB over 30.1 frames this summer at Triple-A. The 26-year-old right-hander projects to fill a middle-relief role.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Sticks with Milwaukee
Rotowire
Mejia agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander was acquired by Milwaukee last November, but he appeared in only two big-league games and missed half the season due to an 80-game suspension. Mejia pitched in 24 contests for Triple-A Nashville and posted a 2.76 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB across 29.1 innings, and he'll likely begin 2023 with the affiliate.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Reinstated, sent down
Rotowire
Mejia (suspension) was reinstated from his rehab assignment and optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Mejia had been sidelined since mid-May for violating the league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, but he was able to begin a rehab assignment in early August. The right-hander struck out four in 3.2 perfect innings over four rehab appearances but will remain in the minors now that his suspension has been served. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, as a result of the suspension, Mejia won't be eligible to pitch in the postseason if Milwaukee should qualify.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mejia (suspension) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
Mejia has been out since mid-May after violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He'll be eligible to return in mid-August, but he'd only made a pair of major-league appearances prior to his ban, so he could remain in the minors once activated.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Dealt 80-game suspension
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Major League Baseball handed Mejia an 80-game suspension Tuesday for violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
He becomes the second Brewers player to receive an 80-game suspension this season, joining catcher Pedro Severino, who was handed his ban in early April. The Brewers will place Mejia on the restricted list as a result of the suspension, a transaction that opens up a spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for right-hander Trevor Kelley, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Nashville. Mejia had made two appearances out of the bullpen since being promoted from the minors May 10, working 2.1 innings while giving up six earned runs. He'll be eligible for reinstatement from the suspension in mid-August.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Mejia was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Mejia was traded from the Guardians to the Brewers in November, and he posted a 4.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 5.2 innings across six relief appearances this spring. Although he was unable to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster, he made 17 appearances (11 starts) for Cleveland last year, so he'll likely be in the mix for a major-league roster spot at some point in 2022.
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Brewers' J.C. Mejia: Moves to Milwaukee
Rotowire
Mejia was traded from the Guardians to the Brewers in exchange for cash or a player to be named later Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Mejia struggled to an 8.25 ERA in 52.1 innings as a swingman in his MLB debut last season. His underlying numbers suggest he didn't deserve a number nearly that bad, but even his comparatively optimistic 4.71 xFIP doesn't provide much reason to get excited. He generated an above-average 47.9 percent groundball rate, something he'd done throughout the minors, but both his 19.7 percent strikeout rate and 10.1 percent walk rate were poor. Still just 25 years old, he has time to improve, but he needs some major improvements to become a notable name.
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Guardians' J.C. Mejia: Designated for assignment
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Mejia was designated for assignment by Cleveland on Friday.
Mejia was shuffled between the major-league club and Triple-A Columbus in 2021. He made 17 appearances (11 starts) in his first taste of big-league action but had a lackluster 8.25 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 52.1 innings. The right-hander will now lose his spot on the 40-man roster.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Back with big club
Rotowire
Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
Mejia was up with the big club for a doubleheader Tuesday but did not make an appearance. With two more twin bills awaiting Cleveland next week, Mejia will provide a fresh arm for the team. Alex Young was optioned to Columbus in a corresponding move.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Mejia was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.
Mejia was summoned as the 29th man for Tuesday's doubleheader versus Minnesota, but he did not appear in either game before returning to Columbus. With two doubleheaders on the schedule next week, it's possible Mejia could be called up again to provide length out of the bullpen.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Up as extra man
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Mejia was recalled to serve as the extra man for Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Mejia was optioned last Tuesday but returns a week later to serve as presumably a low-leverage relief option. He's accomplished very little in his first taste of the majors this season, struggling to an 8.75 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 11 starts and three relief appearances.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Recalled by Cleveland
Rotowire
Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Mejia was sent to the minors in early August but didn't fare very well across his three starts with the Triple-A club. The right-hander posted a 9.64 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in 9.1 innings across his three most recent Triple-A appearances and will likely slot into a low-leverage bullpen role with the major-league squad.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Dropped from active roster
Rotowire
Mejia was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.
Mejia clearly needed a reset, as he's allowed four or more earned runs in each of his last six starts, struggling to a 12.55 ERA and 2.11 WHIP over that stretch and raising his season ERA to 8.75. His spot in the rotation is due up Monday against Cincinnati, so Cleveland will have to call up a starter by then. For now, it's infielder Andres Gimenez who will take his place on the roster.
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Indians' J.C. Mejia: Trampled by Toronto
Rotowire
Mejia (1-7) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and four walks over 2.1 innings as Cleveland fell 8-6 to the Blue Jays. He failed to strike out a batter.
George Springer clobbered the first pitch he saw for a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and things never got any better for Mejia. The rookie is saddled with an 8.75 ERA through his first 47.1 big-league innings thanks in part to 11 homers allowed, and only Cleveland's injury woes are keeping him in the rotation.
