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Minnesota Twins designate Adalberto Mejia for assignment

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 15: Adalberto Mejia #49 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of the game on April 15, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 15: Adalberto Mejia #49 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of the game on April 15, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Twins pulled the plug on the left-hander, designating him for assignment to make room for Jake Odorizzi’s start on Saturday.

The Minnesota Twins continue to throw their top arms out for this weekend’s American League Central showdown with the Cleveland Indians. After taking the first game on Friday night, the Twins activated Jake Odorizzi to start on Saturday. While getting the All-Star back on the mound will be a boost for the Twins, it also means that someone has to go.

As it turns out, that player was Adalberto Mejia, who the Twins designated for assignment on Saturday afternoon according to Betsy Hefland of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Mejia was originally acquired in the Eduardo Nunez trade back in 2016. Once he arrived in Minnesota, it appeared that he could become a back of the rotation starter, posting a 4-7 record with a 4.50 ERA in 2017 and a 2-0 record with a 2.01 ERA in four starts in 2018.

With their options in the rotation this season, the Twins opted to send Mejia to the bullpen in order to avoid the possibility they would have to designate him for assignment if he didn’t make the team. The results were brutal as Mejia appeared in 13 games for the Twins posting an ERA of 8.80 and a WHIP of 1.82.

Mejia’s season also came with a calf injury that caused him to miss nearly two months at the beginning of the year. With the 26-year old giving up a three-run home run to Roughned Odor in extra innings of a 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on July 7, that may have been the last straw to prompt this move.

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With Mejia being sent packing, the Twins will be down to just one left-hander in the bullpen in Taylor Rogers. Mejia’s departure could also foreshadow things to come as the Twins have been mentioned as possible suitors for San Francisco closer Will Smith and Toronto closer Ken Giles.

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