Jordan

Weems

McKenzie headlines a group of 19 players who elected minor league free agency earlier this week, including catcher Matt Thaiss; infielders Scott Kingery, Keston Hiura, Sergio Alcántara, Terrin Vavra and Vimael Machín; outfielders Jose Siri, Connor Joe and Jordyn Adams; and relievers Noah Davis, Scott Blewett, Brooks Kriske, Kevin Herget, Cionel Pérez, Darren McCaughan, Richard Lovelady, José Ruiz and Jordan Weems.

Weems went unclaimed on waivers and will likely wind up electing free agency. The well-traveled 32-year-old reliever coughed up seven runs over 4 1/3 innings (four appearances) during a brief stint with the Astros.

Weems has been cast off from Houston’s bullpen mix after surrendering seven runs over 4 1/3 innings (four appearances) in middle relief.

Weems is up to give the Astros some depth in their bullpen after the 14-1 shellacking by the Red Sox on Tuesday. He likely will just be a low-leverage option in this stint with Houston.

Weems made two relief appearances for the Astros earlier this month before being designated for assignment and electing free agency. The 32-year-old righty is officially back with Houston as extra organizational depth at Triple-A Sugar Land.

He’s declined the assignment and become a free agent. Weems allowed two runs in three innings for the Astros before being DFA’d last week.

The 32-year-old hurler got into just two games during his time with the Astros, posting a 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP with a 0/0 K/BB ratio over his three innings of work. It seems likely that he’ll either get claimed on waivers or elect free agency and find another opportunity that fits his liking.

Weems receives the call to join Houston’s relief corps ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Phillies with Shawn Dubin hitting the injured list with a forearm strain. The well-traveled 32-year-old righty latched on with the Astros earlier this month on a minor league deal shortly after being released by Atlanta. He’ll most likely operate in middle relief.

Weems, 32, was released by the Braves last month after posting a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings of relief work for Triple-A Gwinnett. He has a 5.26 ERA in 140 relief appearances over five big-league seasons.

The latest cuts reduce Atlanta’s spring training roster to 50 players. Shreve and Weems were in camp as non-roster invitees battling for spots in the club’s season-opening bullpen. They’ll open the year back at Triple-A Gwinnett as emergency relief depth.