Francisco Mejia’s name keeps popping up in trade rumors. On Saturday
Adidas Matt Duchene Jersey , it was in Cleveland’s lineup.The Indians recalled their top prospect from Triple-A Columbus amid speculation about him being part of potential deals before the July 31 trading
deadline. Mejia will bat sixth and serve as Cleveland’s designated hitter for
Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees.
A catcher for most of his career, Mejia has been playing some outfield in the minors and it’s possible he could be there for the Indians later this season –
as long as they don’t ship him anywhere for bullpen help.
For at least for the next two games, the 22-year-old switch-hitter can help with his bat.
To make room for Mejia, the Indians sent starter Shane Bieber to Columbus. The right-hander improved to 5-1 on Friday night with a win over New York.
Indians manager Terry Francona said Meija will go back to the minors on Sunday,
and he will not play in the All-Star Futures Game in Washington D.C.
With a need for outfielders, the Indians began playing Mejia in right and left field and Francona said the reports have been positive on his progress.
”He views himself as a catcher and he is a catcher,” Francona said. ”We’re trying to explain to him that, `We got outfield needs and we think you’re a
really advanced hitter. If you can play the outfield good enough, you can come
and play in the major leagues. Doesn’t mean you can’t catch at some point.’
”He’s been playing more outfield recently, just because of the need. I’ll probably get a chance to visit with him here the next couple days, which is good
because I think in-person conversations go a lot farther.”
Mejia has played 23 games in left field and seven in right. He’s learning how to read the ball off the bat, track drives into the gaps and hit the cut-off
man.
But Mejia’s biggest adjustment has been keeping busy.
”The hardest thing is not getting balls hit to me
Buccaneers Ronald Jones II Jersey ,” he said through a translator. ”Like sometimes it feels a little bit boring. Besides that, I’m fine.”
The Indians have no doubts about Mejia’s hitting ability. He’s batting .279 (83- of 297) with 21 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 77 games for the
Clippers. In June, he batted .455 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 24 games.
This is Mejia’s second stint this season with Cleveland, which could be tempted to trade him to find relief help or another outfielder.
Mejia played in 13 games for the Indians, but only batted .154 with one RBI in 13 at-bats.
??The only question about Tom Brady as quarterback in New England is when Father Time finally wins before the five-time Super Bowl champ
decides he’s done with the NFL.Same for Drew Brees in New Orleans or Philip
Rivers with the Chargers.Aaron Rodgers is expected back at his usual level
returning from injury for Green Bay, and Deshaun Watson tantalized before his
own injury cut short a very promising rookie season. Even though it’s been a
while since Andrew Luck threw a pass in an NFL game, his resume gives him plenty
of cushion as he recovers from shoulder surgery.Not every quarterback has the
same grip on a starting job as Brady, Brees or Rodgers, and a poor game or
sloppy start can lead to a spot on the bench. Add a promising rookie into the
mix, the leash can be even shorter.Here’s a look at some quarterbacks who need
to play well to remain starters as training camps open around the league:JAMEIS
WINSTON, BUCCANEERSYes
Adidas Blake Wheeler Jersey , Marcus Mariota must prove he can play all 16 games in a season, but the Tennessee Titans already have picked up Mariota’s
fifth-year option for 2019. Same for Tampa Bay for Jameis Winston, the
quarterback taken a spot ahead of Mariota in 2015. Both are due $20.9 million in
2019 at what could be a bargain the way the market is booming for
quarterbacks.On the other hand, Winston will miss the first three games this
season with the quarterback suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct
policy after a league investigation of an accusation that the 2013 Heisman
Trophy winner groped a female Uber driver during a ride in Arizona in March
2016. That’s not a great combination when Bucs coach Dirk Koetter’s job security
already is at risk after a 5-11 record last season. Tampa Bay brought back
veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started three games in Winston’s place last
season, for an experienced backup.JIMMY GAROPPOLO, 49ERSJimmy G could do no
wrong for the 49ers last season, winning five straight games after finally
moving into the starting lineup. San Francisco wasted little time signing the
young quarterback to a five-year contract worth $137.5 million at an average of
$27.5 million per season. The 49ers also re-signed receiver Marquise Goodwin to
keep a top target around.As good as Garoppolo looked, there’s now plenty of game
tape of him running coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Defensive coordinators,
especially those in the NFC West, have had all offseason to figure out how to
slow down Garoppolo.TYROD TAYLOR, BROWNSHelping the Bills stop a seemingly
endless playoff drought wasn’t enough to keep Taylor on the job in Buffalo. The
Cleveland Browns traded for Taylor on the eve of free agency
Authentic Josh Jackson Jersey , and that’s normally a sure sign a team is heavily invested in a player. Then the Browns went quarterback with the No. 1
overall pick in the draft, selecting Baker Mayfield. Keeping Mayfield on the
bench depends mostly on how long Taylor plays well.JOE FLACCO, RAVENSThe 10-year
veteran has missed a mere six games since being drafted by Baltimore in 2008,
all in 2015, and led the Ravens to a Super Bowl in 2012. But the Ravens last
reached the playoffs in 2014, and general manager Ozzie Newsome made sure to
give himself options in his final year in charge. Not Robert Griffin III, who
last started a game in 2016 with Cleveland.Newsome traded to get the final pick
of the first round in April to select Lamar Jackson . Yes, the Ravens insist
they want to develop Jackson and be patient. If Flacco struggles, Jackson, who
threw 57 touchdown passes over the past two seasons in college at Louisville and
won a Heisman Trophy, could start looking really good much sooner.CASE KEENUM,
BRONCOSComing off the bench and leading Minnesota to the NFC championship game
is one thing. Playing quarterback under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer John
Elway in Denver is quite a different challenge. Keenum comes in as the starter
after the best season of his career . He’ll need to pick up where he left off to
stop the Broncos’ quarterback carousel
Vita Vea Jersey Elite , with backup Paxton Lynch, the 26th pick overall in 2016, sitting on the bench and, thus far, showing little when he has
played.PATRICK MAHOMES IIWith Alex Smith traded to Washington , all the pressure
now is on Mahomes in Kansas City after he was the target of all those longing
looks to the bench by fans during his rookie season. He looked good winning his
first NFL start in last year’s regular-season finale . That won’t help with
expectations remaining high for the Chiefs, who won the AFC West before blowing
a wild-card game to the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium in the playoffs..
