Former Padres Trade Chip Involved in Blake Snell Deal DFA'd by Rays

A clear win for San Diego!

Pitching at a Cy Young level for the Padres this year, GM AJ Preller is surely satisfied with the return on investment from lefty Blake Snell while he's been with the team. 

Coming over in a trade from the Tampa Bay, one of the main pieces the Rays got in return for their ace was just designated for assignment from the team in a bit of a shocking move. 

#Rays DFA Francisco Mejia

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 22, 2023

Mejia played three seasons with the Friars before being traded for Snell that also netted the Rays, fellow catcher Blake Hunt and pitchers Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox. 

The Dominican international was hitting .227 with an OPS under .650 for a talented Rays team. 

Though not the primary backstop for the team, it's still a little jarring to see the team cut the 27-year-old catcher loose. 

Patino hasn't panned out at the major league level either for Tampa making the Snell deal look all that much worse in hindsight considering the level he's pitching at this year. 

An impending free agent, Snell is lobbying himself a big pay day in his contract year with a Cy Young level year. 

To this point, Snell has shoved to the tune of a sub-3 ERA and 176 strikeouts, eating innings for a rotation that has been less than whole all season long. 

Injuries to both Joe Musgrove and Michael Wacha as well as some ineffective performance from newest acquisition Rich Hill have meant that Snell has needed to carry more of a load than usual. 

Whether or not Snell or closer Josh Hader will choose to re-sign with the team, the trades to get them to San Diego were definite wins by Preller and the front office. 

Playoff baseball may not happen for the Padres in 2023, but it won't be for a lack of trying on Snell's part this season.