Serious questions for the rest of the board..
Background info:
Jean Carlos Mejia is already on the Tribe 40 man roster. If he spends enough time in the minors this season he burns his 2nd option season.
In 2018 JCM tossed 98 innings across 2 levels, serving primarily as a starting pitcher. Before 2018 he had been a relief pitcher (only 1 start across 73 appearances). In 2019 he returned to Lynchburg & got 8 starts (33 IP) before suffering an injury (IIRC a hip issue). Before the 98 IP in 2018, his season high for a year had been 39.1 IP in 2015. So far this spring training he has been impressive in relief against lesser competition.
Question 1: Assuming health, how many innings do you think JCM gets to pitch this season before he gets limited/ shut down due to concerns of over-extending???
Question 2: Might the Tribe look to get max usage of JCM by shifting him back to the bullpen this year & see what he could do for the major league club BEFORE trying to make 40 man moves in order to use Cam Hill/ Jared Robinson/ others on Spring Training invites/ other relievers in the upper minors to fill out & prop up the bullpen until Clase is able to return to action???
I realize many fans have thought Sam Hentges would be shifted to the bullpen at some point but I'm really wondering if JC Mejia is the better option to move & move now. Let me know your thoughts.
Honestly JC Mejia came out of left field being added to the 40 man roster and outside of maybe
@BimboColesHair most of dont know a ton on him outside of a little film and the scouting reports, so I won't base my opinion off of his stuff, but off of the tendencies of the organization.
The Indians will keep pitchers who are starters, as starters long as possible. They have more value that way within and outside of the organization. Now since his timeline to the bigs has kind of been shortened, we may see some relieving but that won't be until he is out of options. If I am correct he could possibly have 4 option years (They were able to have Erik Gonzo have a fourth and they added JC Mejia at the same time minor league wise).
My guess is both Hentges and Mejia will be starting this season. Hentges may see some relief outings this season, but as long as Nelson, Logan Allen, Moss, Gose, O. Perez are healthy from the left side, they have no reason to switch him. Now next season when we dont have Perez and with the new 3 batter rule and how deep the starting is, he could be switched over, but until it's necessary he is staying a starter since that's how they like to develop players.
Mejia should be high A, AA this season and AA, AAA next season. So it's in 22 that he should be into the bigs in a sense. That is the time frame from them to figure out if they keep him at starter or reliever, if he is still on the 40 man roster since his stock did drop some with his 19 performance.
Wood is the guy that we have to pay attention to on the roster. He is out of options and if he doesnt have a good spring then one of the guys you mentioned could take his spot. Mejia to me isn't in contention for this years ball club at all and Hentges isnt either since in Sept we can only add two players and he is not in the top ten right now when it comes to the rotation and same way as a reliever even though he is on the 40 man roster.
