CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When a team takes seven players off its 40-man roster in one day as the Guardians did Friday, they can’t keep those players in limbo. The Guardians have seven days to trade or place them on irrecovable outright waivers.
The trades started Monday as right-hander J.C. Mejia was sent to Milwaukee for a player or cash. Mejia is out of options so the Brewers have to keep him on their 40-man roster.
Outfielder Harold Ramirez, who was designated for assignment Friday along with Mejia, was traded to the Cubs for cash considerations. Ramirez, who is out of options, must stay on Chicago’s 40-man roster.
The Guardians also signed veteran catcher San Leon to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Leon, who played for the Marlins in 2021, spent the 2020 season with Cleveland. Leon isn’t much of a hitter, but the Guardians need depth with only two catchers on the 40-man roster.
When Cleveland’s rotation was shattered by injuries last season, Mejia was one of the pitchers recalled from Class AAA to try and keep things respectable. The 6-5, 240-pound Mejia struggled, going 1-7 with a 8.25 ERA in 17 games, including 11 starts.
Mejia averaged 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings and may be better suited for the bullpen.
Ramirez moved into the middle of lineup last season when DH Franmil Reyes was injured. He hit .268 (91-for-339) with 21 doubles, seven homers and 41 RBI. He slashed .268/.305/.398.
When Reyes returned from the injured list, Ramirez was added to the outfield rotation with Bradley Zimmer, Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado. He turned every fly ball into an adventure and most of them had a bad ending. On Fangraphs.com he registered a -8 in defensive runs saved.
In Friday’s massive roster makeover, the Guardians DFA’d pitchers Mejia, Justin Garza, Scott Moss, Kyle Nelson and Alex Young and outfielders Ramirez and Johnson.
Leon, 32, hit .183 (37-for-202) for the Marlins this year. He appear in 83 games, hitting four homers with 14 RBI. In the 60-game sprint in 2020, Leon hit .136 (9-for-66) with two homers and four RBI for Cleveland.
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Cleveland 40-man roster review
José Ramírez | Cal Quantrill | Emmanuel Clase | Shane Bieber | Amed Rosario
Aaron Civale | Franmil Reyes | Myles Straw | Zach Plesac | Bradley Zimmer
Triston McKenzie | James Karinchak | Andrés Giménez | Oscar Mercado
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