How Adam Rosales to the D-Backs Makes Sense
By Will Patrone
The A’s fan base was forced to swallow the harsh reality that ace and fan favorite Sonny Gray would be headed to the New York Yankees for three prospects. This trade deadline deal has been covered extensively by the media, and rightfully so. Arguably, Grey was the biggest name traded this year. But Adam Rosales, the versatile infielder, was shipped to the Diamondbacks for minor league reliever Jeferson Mejia. Although very few have batted an eye towards this deal, it could prove significant to the rebuilding efforts of the Athletics.
Jeferson Mejia is not a Dustin Fowler, Jorge Mateo, or James Kaprielian like prospect that the A’s got for Gray, but he could potentially become a solid reliever in the future. The A’s weren’t desperate to get rid of Rosales, so they had to see some potential in Mejia to pull the trigger.
Path to Oakland’s Farm System
Mejia was signed for $850,000 at age 18 by the Chicago Cubs. The righty out of the Dominican Republic was traded in December 2014 to the Arizona Diamondbacks with Zack Godley for catcher Miguel Montero.
He has yet to surpass A ball, since his signing in 2013, but he has potential. He is 6’7″ (Aaron Judge‘s height, as a side note),195 pounds and turns 23 today. Scouts tout his fastball that reaches 97mph and his curveball with late movement. He has the potential to be a strong starter, however, has generally been regulated to the bullpen.
Minor Leauge Success
Mejia has given up just 8 home runs in 208.1 total innings of minor league ball and boasts a 13-14 record with a 4.67 ERA as a professional. He has been having a down year this year, with a 1-1 record with a 5.90 ERA in low A and A ball. No stats jump out as spectacular, but nothing holds him back besides a 5.9 career BB9.
Mejia will not become the next Sean Doolittle of the A’s bullpen. But he has the potential to become a solid reliever. Not a bad return to clear space for young players like Chad Pinder and Franklin Barretto.