The Marlins have claimed right-hander Kaleb Ort from the Mariners, per Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. There was no previous reporting to indicate Ort was available, but the Mariners evidently tried to pass him through waivers. The Marlins now have a 40-man roster count of 39 and the Mariners 38.
Ort, 32 in February, has been with the Red Sox for the past three seasons. He appeared in 47 games at the big league level, tossing 51 2/3 innings with a 6.27 earned run average. This is the second time he has been claimed off waivers since Boston’s season ended, with M’s claiming him in October and now the Marlins today.
The interest likely stems from Ort’s big strikeout numbers in the minor leagues. He has punched out 182 of the 571 batters he’s faced in Triple-A, a rate of 31.9%. He’s also given out walks at a 12.3% clip but it’s understandable that clubs would hope for a breakout with a bit more finesse.
Ort still has an option year remaining, allowing the Marlins to utilize him as a depth piece for the year if he doesn’t earn his way into a major league role. He’s also still cheap, heaving yet to qualify for arbitration. For the Mariners, they have cleared up a couple of roster spots with this claim and also that of Cooper Hummel, who was claimed by the Mets. That gives the M’s some spots for new additions, perhaps in next week’s Rule 5 draft.
something something Ort Cloud
That might pronounced oh-ert with a Michigander accent
When he’s gassy, he’s been known to create an Ort Cloud or two…
They must have talked with some Red Sox fans.
Making room….?
Clearing Room prior to Winter Meetings!
Fever Pitch Guy will be glad to see his favorite ex-Red Sox reliever is back on the East Coast so he’s easier to track. I am very bummed Ort could not take the hill even once for the M’s.
Ignorant – How did you know I’d check out the comments here? Haha!
Maybe this was a Gabe recommendation?
Weird coincidence… my son is also named Ort
Well, I’ll certainly give you the “weird” part.
LMAO
Come along, Ort!
my son’s name is Bort, but that is an extremely common name
There’s a cloud around this transaction. Just out reach of someone shedding some light on the situation, it’s systemic issue.
Needed the roster spot. Lot can change in a couple months.
There would be no need to try and pass him through waivers unless the M’s have plans for the two open spots on their 40 man roster.
Rule V draft is coming up. You cant draft someone with a full roster.
Ort: 100MPH fastball . . . Thats as flat as an ice skating rink, right after the Zamboni is done.
RSmith – Agree 100%. It does not matter how fast Ort throws if he has no movement and trouble throwing strikes. When Ort was in the strike zone, he was getting hammered. Ort pitched 23.0 innings for the Red Sox and gave up 6 HRs. You can not get much worse than that.
Ort was acquired in the Rule 5 draft secondary phase by the Red Sox, so it was no loss.
The fact that Ort was in the MLB for the Red Sox shows how thin their pitching depth was. Bloom was obviously mandated to get under the CBT, so he skimped on depth in RF in 2022, and in the bullpen in 2023, as well as 2nd base both years. Bloom had a tough job of rebuilding without it looking like a rebuild, and then was the fall guy. He made some good trades, but he also made some boneheaded trades (like re-acquiring Jackie Bradley from the Brewers), as well as some poor FA signings.
With that I am glad the Red Sox made the switch to Breslow….
I forgot he was Rule V. Ty
Did bloom take a job with miami?
Probably have their eyes on a rule 5 guy.
The only thing that caught my eye was that disgusting yellow jersey
Is Ohtani still a free agent??
@Subatomicbunt
No, all the MLB teams don’t want to invest in him anymore so he’s back in Japan throwing no-hitters each outing and hitting HRs every at-bat. He’s just so good but I guess MLB doesn’t want the best of the best.
Guy’s making his rounds. In one month, he’s been on 3 teams.
Klaatu barada nikto.
Sleep-walking?
Ortani
Saw his stats?
or saw him pitch
Kale, abort
This kind of waiver movement happens all the time. He seemed like a good add then, but someone better/younger/cheaper came along a few months later.
This Ort to be interesting…
Now this is NEWS!!! No one cares about Soto/ S/O or some guy from over seas that’s never faced MLB hitters!! But ORT on move again…. Once Brais signs the rest are playing for 2nd place anyways!!!!
Should have a good year in AAA.
I gotta ask…Why the Kenta Maeda pic w/ a brewers handle
There dealing with at this time a marginal player who’s abilities, development are both being challenge by a concept known as patience which in baseball parlance is not accepted whole heartedly. Move or become moved.