Veteran outfielder Rafael Ortega triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Mets and was granted his release, MLBTR has learned. He’s a free agent who can sign with any club.
The 34-year-old Ortega signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason, kicking off his second stint with the team. He also spent the 2023 campaign with the Mets, hitting .219/.341/.272 in 136 big league plate appearances and .230/.379/.398 in 140 Triple-A plate appearances.
Ortega has picked up more than three years of major league service time and played in parts of eight big league seasons. He’s a career .245/.322/.349 hitter in 1301 plate appearances as a big leaguer, highlighted by a 2021-22 run with the Cubs that saw him slash .265/.344/.408 (110 wRC+) in semi-regular action (701 plate appearances over 221 games).
Ortega has spent the majority of the current season on the injured list due to a significant hamstring strain. He went on a low-level rehab stint in late July and was activated on the Triple-A roster earlier this month. He started only four of the nine games for the Mets’ Triple-A Syracuse club since his reinstatement, however, and received 18 total plate appearances in that time. Top outfield prospect Carson Benge’s recent promotion to Syracuse would surely further reduce Ortega’s playing opportunities, so he’ll return to the open market in search of a new landing spot.
In parts of 10 seasons at the Triple-A level, Ortega is a .286/.370/.446 hitter. He’s a left-handed bat who can handle all three outfield positions. He’ll be an option for any club looking for some experienced outfield depth.
He ain’t staying around for this shitshow.
Syracuse is gonna be pretty good with the top prospects they just got. He wasn’t being called up to Queens, so he didn’t have to worry about how things are going there.
Remember, the rats jumped off the Titanic before it completely went down.
Rafael Ortega does have an ‘R’, ‘A’, and a ‘T’ in his name.
the Mets may appears to be worse than the Dodgers, but they aren’t
They are both competing hard for the distinction.
You’re sort of right, though one plays in a tougher division
When nobody picks him up he’ll resign in a week.
That was his MO two years ago. But not sure the Mets would bother this time around.
I’ve always admired Ortega. I’m surprised he doesn’t get more opportunities.
Maybe three years ago. Not anymore. He can’t his RHers, his CF defense is not that good anymore. Thats very limited functionality/ usefulness. And at 34, he’s not going to get any better.
Maybe he doesn’t get more opportunities because there are many guys who aren’t a few years into the wrong side of 30, who also deserve opportunities – and some of them can actually perform.
Dang, I still need him for my Mets autograph project, was hoping to see him soon in SWB or the Lehigh Valley…
You can find one online. I doubt anyone will know the difference with this player.
Now if you came up with a Baby Ruth signature, people would notice.
How is it that there are only about 10 comments on here? Weeks ago, every Mets article was filled with comments from their fans. Heck, if MLBTR wrote an article about a mosquito farting in CitiField, that would have had 100s of posts. Now, nothing. I wonder why?
Where did all those Mets fans go? Are they gone because school started or is it because the weather isn’t fair any more?
No worries Mets fans and Mets “fans”. I’m sure Cohen will right the ship when he finally opens up his wallet to spend more money. After all, I don’t think he spent enough last offseason to win when you consider that teams from markets like the Reds, Cardinals, Giants, D-Backs, and Marlins are in their rearview mirror…with 42 games left in the regular season. When you’re worried that those teams might pass you up by the end of the season, you clearly didn’t spend enough and need to stop cheapening up.
Cohen, open up the wallet! Anything less than a billion dollars ain’t cuttin’ it.
they are here but this is big nothing burger and no need to discuss. He is like 8 or 9th on the depth chart if not further and surprised he didnt ask to be released sooner. This is about as news worthy if Brian Metoyer requested his release.
Its kind of funny that mets posts have more marlin fans on mets news than marlin fans on the marlins post.
Speaking of funny. It was funny before that there were Mets fans everywhere in every other NL East post, but since the downward spiral, gone gone gone! I wonder if it’s because the weather is no longer fair or is it because school started, so the kiddos couldn’t post any more.
people go on vacation and people get busy and you are still posting more on met topics than marlins topics from what i see. Met Derangement Syndrome perhaps?
They must go on vacatiuon at the same time…and coincidentally right when the Mets start losing. It happens every year.