Ortega signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Ortega was released from his contract with the Yankees after failing to make the big-league team this spring. He'll now have the chance to earn a more substantial role with Texas, which has a need in center field so long as Leody Taveras (oblique) is sidelined.
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Rafael Ortega: Granted release by Yankees
Rotowire
Ortega was released by the Yankees on Tuesday, Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors reports.
The Yanks haven't publicly revealed Ortega's status yet, but Adams hears that he was told he would not make the roster and, as a result, requested and was granted his release. Presumably, that means Estevan Florial has officially made the team. Ortega will now look to catch on elsewhere.
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Yankees' Rafael Ortega: Good shot to win roster spot
Rotowire
Ortega has a good shot to win an Opening Day roster spot with the Yankees following the injury to Harrison Bader (oblique), Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Manager Aaron Boone noted that Ortega was firmly in the mix even before Bader's injury and now his roster spot might be cinched. He could even get a good number of starts in center field while Bader is out if the team prefers to keep Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks on the corners. Ortega posted a .753 OPS as a semi-regular with the Cubs over the previous two seasons.
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Yankees' Rafael Ortega: Catches on with Yankees
Rotowire
Ortega signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Tuesday, Empire Sports Media reports.
The deal presumably includes an invite to major-league spring training. Ortega is a solid depth signing for a team which has a couple injury risks in center field in Harrison Bader and Aaron Hicks and a left fielder in Oswaldo Cabrera whose main experience is as an infielder. The 31-year-old had an .823 OPS as a part-timer with the Cubs in 2021 before falling off to a .688 OPS in 2022.
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Rafael Ortega: Becomes free agent
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The Cubs declined to tender Ortega a contract for 2023, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
With that, Ortega is now a free agent. This comes just a little over a year after Ortega's incredible run in his debut with the Cubs (.291/.360/.463 line, 11 homers and 12 steals in his first 103 games). As is often the case, the league started pitching him differently and the results suffered. Ortega is already 31 but figures to stick around the league for now as a reserve outfielder.
Ortega (finger) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Ortega was ruled out for the rest of the season after he was diagnosed with a fractured left ring finger Tuesday, so the move to the 60-day IL was only a matter of time. The 31-year-old closes out 2022 with a .241/.331/.358 slash line, seven home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs and 12 stolen bases in 370 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Out for season with broken finger
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Ortega suffered a fractured left ring finger during Tuesday's win over the Mets and will miss the rest of the season, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old singled in his lone plate appearance Tuesday before he suffered the injury on a bunt attempt. Ortega will miss the final few weeks of the season and will finish the campaign with a .241/.331/.358 slash line, seven home runs, 35 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 118 games.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Productive in Monday's win
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Ortega went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two total RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Mets.
Ortega was replaced by pinch hitter Michael Hermosillo in the ninth inning, but the former had already done his damage. His seventh home run of the season made it 1-0 in the second inning, and the outfielder added an RBI single in the fourth. Ortega still routinely sits against southpaws, though he's capable of big stat lines when he plays against righties.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Slaps two hits, swipes bag
Rotowire
Ortega went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base during Sunday's 4-2 loss to San Francisco.
Ortega singled and stole second in the third inning and singled home a run in the fifth before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. The two-hit game was the 31-year-old's second of September while the theft was his first since recording two Aug. 29. Ortega is slashing .234/.326/.356 with six home runs, 33 runs, 33 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 116 games.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Sits against left-hander
Rotowire
Ortega isn't starting Friday against the Reds.
Ortega is on the bench for a third consecutive game since left-hander Carlos Rodon is on the mound for San Francisco. Christopher Morel will start in center field and bat ninth.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: On bench Thursday
Rotowire
Ortega isn't starting Thursday against the Reds.
Although right-hander Luis Cessa is starting for the Reds on Thursday, Ortega will head to the bench for a second consecutive game. Nelson Velazquez is starting in center field and batting eighth.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Sitting against southpaw
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Ortega isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds.
Ortega started the last three games and went 2-for-8 with three RBI, a run, two walks and two strikeouts, but he'll get a breather with left-hander Mike Minor on the mound for the Reds. Nelson Velazquez is taking over in center field and batting sixth.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Sits against lefty
Rotowire
Ortega is not in the lineup for Friday's game in St. Louis.
Ortega currently boasts a .671 OPS in 2022, which drops to .496 against lefties, so seeing him on the bench against lefty Jordan Montgomery isn't much of a surprise. Nelson Velazquez will take over for Ortega in center field.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Steals two bases Monday
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Ortega went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's 11-inning loss to the Blue Jays. He also stole two bases.
Ortega made his presence known each time he reached base, as he recorded his 10th and 11th steals of the season in 18 attempts. The outfielder tallied a career-high 12 stolen bases during a solid 2021 campaign in which he also recorded a career-best 11 home runs to go with an .823 OPS. His power is down a bit this year with just six long balls so far and a .672 OPS, though at least Ortega is still running plenty when he gets on.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Multi-hit effort in win
Rotowire
Ortega went 2-for-3 in Wednesday's 7-1 victory over the Cardinals.
Ortega recorded two hits Wednesday, his first multi-hit game since Aug. 4. After slashing .291/.360/.463 in 2021, Ortega has failed to find his groove, as he now now owns a 233/.326/.353 line on the campaign. His poorer performance this season has cost him at-bats versus left-handed pitching as well as his spot atop the Cubs' lineup. He will be tough to roster in most formats moving forward.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Takes seat Monday
Rotowire
Ortega isn't starting Monday's game against Washington.
Although right-hander Josiah Gray is starting for the Nationals on Monday, Ortega will retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games, and he looks like he'll have to settle for a part-time role moving forward. Christopher Morel is taking over in center field while Zach McKinstry starts at third base.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Retreats to bench
Rotowire
Ortega isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds.
Although right-hander Graham Ashcraft is on the mound Saturday, Ortega will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Nelson Velazquez is starting in center field and batting eighth.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Ortega is out of the lineup for Thursday's Field of Dreams Game versus the Reds.
Ortega went 1-for-12 with two RBI, a run and a stolen base while starting the past three games, and he'll take a seat Thursday with southpaw Nick Lodolo pitching for Cincinnati. Christopher Morel will shift to center field and bat ninth.
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Cubs' Rafael Ortega: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Ortega is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Ortega is 5-for-15 with a double, two walks and a run through four games in August and will take a seat for the series finale. He started the past two games in center field, but Nelson Velazquez will receive the nod Sunday.
