MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported this afternoon that the Boston Red Sox have inked ex-Mets right-hander Jenrry Mejia to a minor league contract, with an invite to mini-camp.
Jenrry Mejia signs minors deal with Red Sox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2019
Mejia in his brief big-league career has put up decent numbers. Through parts of five seasons with the New York Mets, he posted a 3.68 ERA in 183.1 innings pitched. Most recently in his final MLB stint, he hadn’t allowed an earned run through 7.1 innings before he was done for the season due to a PED suspension.
Which is where the controversy comes when the name Jenrry Mejia comes up. The reason the 29-year-old righty hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2015 has nothing to do with his talent. He’s shown he is a very capable pitcher at the big-league level. However, he comes with a lot of baggage –– as Mejia’s PED suspension in 2015 was essentially his third strike. He was banned from the MLB for his third drug violation and had virtually fallen off the face of the earth for three years.
However, on July 8 of 2018, commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated Mejia. His statement regarding Mejia goes as follows:
“Under the terms of our collectively bargained Joint Drug Program, a permanently suspended player like Mr. Mejia has the right to apply to me for discretionary reinstatement after serving a minimum of two years. Upon receiving Mr. Mejia’s application for reinstatement last year, I invited him to New York to meet with me. During our meeting, Mr. Mejia expressed regret for poor choices he made in the past and assured me that, if reinstated, he would adhere to the terms of the Program going forward. In light of Mr. Mejia’s contrition, his commitment to comply with the Program in the future, and the fact that he will have already spent almost four consecutive years suspended without pay, I have decided to grant Mr. Mejia a final chance to resume his professional career” (courtesy of MLB.com).
So the Red Sox become the first team to invite Mejia to camp, giving him his last real shot to prove his worth to an MLB ball club. Should he fail another drug test, he likely is all out of second chances. This signing is very low-risk for Dave Dombrowski, and the potential to be a high-reward scenario.
Mejia gets 625K if in majors #bosox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2019
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