White Sox's Rafael Ortega: Outrighted to Charlotte
Rotowire
Ortega cleared waivers Friday and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ortega held the right to decline his outright assignment and elect free agency, but he will instead remain within the White Sox organization and look to turn things around in the minors. The 33-year-old went 1-for-14 during his stint with the Sox, but he has slashed .241/.378/.431 with 14 RBI through 75 plate appearances with Charlotte.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Rafael Ortega: Swipes first two bags of season
Rotowire
Ortega went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
Getting the start in center field and batting seventh against southpaw Mitchell Parker, Ortega swiped second base both times he got on board. The hit and the steals were the first of the season for the 33-year-old, and the last two starts for the lefty-swinging Ortega have curiously come against left-handed pitching, as he filled in for Gavin Sheets on Tuesday and Andrew Benintendi on Sunday. With Luis Robert (hip) close to beginning a rehab assignment, Ortega's time on the big-league roster is likely drawing to a close.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Rafael Ortega: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The White Sox designated Ortega for assignment Wednesday.
The veteran outfielder went 1-for-14 at the plate during his time with the White Sox. Ortega will likely clear waivers and could report to Triple-A Charlotte, but he has enough tenure to decline a potential outright assignment and elect free agency if he prefers.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Rafael Ortega: Joins big-league roster
Rotowire
The White Sox selected Ortega's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ortega was slashing .241/.378/.431 with three home runs and six stolen bases for Charlotte. Given Chicago's dearth of quality options, the 32-year-old could see semi-regular reps in the outfield.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Rafael Ortega: Latches on with White Sox
Rotowire
Ortega signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Jan. 5.
Ortega, 32, spent the bulk of the 2023 season at the Triple-A level in the Mets and Rangers organizations but did get into 47 games with the Mets, posting a .619 OPS. He's a career .247/.324/.352 hitter over parts of seven big-league seasons. The White Sox's outfield depth is thin, so it's possible Ortega will get another opportunity in the majors at some point in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Rafael Ortega: Hits open market
Rotowire
Ortega elected to become a free agent Tuesday.
Ortega cleared waivers after being pushed off the Mets' 40-man roster last week. The 32-year-old outfielder drew regular playing time down the stretch this season in Queens but finished with an ugly .219 batting average and .613 OPS across 136 total plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Removed from 40-man
Rotowire
The Mets placed Ortega on outright waivers Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Ortega became an everyday part of the Mets' outfield in the second half of the season, but he'll now be booted from the active roster after slashing .219/.341/.272 across 136 plate appearances. The 32-year-old Ortega will likely elect free agency if he goes unclaimed off waivers.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Added to lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Ortega was added to the lineup for Wednesday's game at Miami.
Ortega will start in left field and bat sixth versus the Marlins and right-hander Eury Perez after DJ Stewart (wrist) had to be scratched just before first pitch.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Loses hold of regular role
Rotowire
Ortega is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Ortega appears to have lost of his regular spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching in the wake of the Mets promoting top prospect Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. With Mauricio picking up his third straight start at second base Sunday, Jeff McNeil will make his third consecutive start in the outfield, leaving no room in the lineup for Ortega. Since being promoted from Syracuse himself Aug. 1, Ortega has slashed .238/.337/.300 in 92 plate appearances with the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Ortega is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Rangers.
Ortega has put together a three-game hitting streak, but the 32-year-old left-handed hitter will take a seat Tuesday with southpaw Andrew Heaney toeing the slab for Texas. Tim Locastro is covering left field and batting ninth for the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Ortega isn't in the Mets' lineup Friday against the Angels.
Ortega will get a breather as the Halos send left-hander Patrick Sandoval to the mound to start Friday's contest. Tim Locastro will start in left field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Pops first homer
Rotowire
Ortega went 1-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's win over Atlanta.
The journeyman outfielder took Allan Winans deep in the second inning for his first homer of 2023. Ortega has started 14 of the last 16 games, mostly in center field, and he's earned that playing time with a .280/.345/.360 slash line, three steals, five RBI and nine runs. The 32-year-old isn't part of the Mets' future, but he seems poised to be a big part of the team's patchwork lineup for the rest of the season.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Ortega is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates.
Tim Locastro will start in center field and bat ninth as the Mets take on left-hander Bailey Falter. The left-handed-hitting Ortega went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's series-opening victory over Pittsburgh.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Knocks three hits
Rotowire
Ortega went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
Ortega scored the Mets' first run of the game in the third inning and later ripped a two-run single in the fifth. It was his second multi-hit game of the year and first three-hit performance. In 12 games since being promoted to the MLB level, he's slashing .243/.317/.270 with four runs scored and one extra-base hit.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Sitting Game 2 on Saturday
Rotowire
Ortega is not in the starting lineup for Game 2 on Saturday versus Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Ortega will take a seat after he went 1-for-7 with two walks, a strikeout and a stolen base over the first two games of the series. Brandon Nimmo will slide over to left field while Tim Locastro enters the lineup in center field and bats ninth against Atlanta.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Seeing steady playing time
Rotowire
Ortega will start in left field and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Cubs.
Ortega has recorded just two hits in 15 at-bats since he was called up from Triple-A Syracuse last Tuesday, but he's picked up starts in the outfield in six of the Mets' ensuing seven games. With Tommy Pham and Mark Canha getting moved at the trade deadline and with Starling Marte (groin) landing on the injured list Monday, Ortega looks like he'll have a fairly clear path to steady playing time despite having yet to offer much production at the dish.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Contract selected Tuesday
Rotowire
The Mets selected Ortega's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Ortega joined New York on a minor-league deal in mid-June and will join the big club Tuesday to help fill out the roster after the Mets shipped off numerous players at the trade deadline. The 32-year-old had a .689 OPS with the Cubs last season and had a .230/.379/.398 slash line in 30 games for Syracuse.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Rafael Ortega: Gets minors deal from Mets
Rotowire
Ortega signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Friday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Ortega was released by the Rangers earlier this month after slashing .226/.333/.381 with five home runs and eight stolen bases across 199 plate appearances. He's capable of playing all three outfield spots and will give the Mets some veteran depth at Triple-A Syracuse.
... See More... See Less
Rafael Ortega: Cut by Texas
Rotowire
The Rangers released Ortega on Wednesday.
It's not clear whether Ortega asked for his release or the team decided to cut him loose. The veteran outfielder slashed .226/.333/.381 with five home runs and eight stolen bases across 199 plate appearances with Triple-A Round Rock this season.
