The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor-league deal. Ortega spent most of his time in 2023 in the minors with the New York Mets and Texas Rangers but also played in 47 games with the Mets, going 25-for-114 (.219) with a home run, eight RBI and six stolen bases in 136 plate appearances. The 32-year-old could get some run with the rebuilding White Sox in 2024 given their lack of outfield depth, but Ortega can probably be ignored in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. In seven major-league seasons with the Rockies, Angels, Marlins, Braves, Cubs and Mets, he has a .247 career batting average with 22 home runs, 109 RBI, 47 stolen bases and 136 runs scored in 411 games played.
Danny Mendick, Rafael Ortega Removed From 40-Man Roster
New York Mets infielder Danny Mendick and outfielder Rafael Ortega have been placed on outright waivers on Friday. This comes as no surprise considering both players struggled during their time with the Mets last season. Ortega was an everyday outfielder in the second half of the season. However, he slashed .219/.341/.272 during that time, which wasn't enough to warrant keeping him around. It's likely that both players head into free agency this offseason.
The New York Yankees signed free-agent outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. The deal likely includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Ortega joins Willie Calhoun and Billy McKinney as outfield reclamation projects for the Yankees entering spring training in 2023. It's possible that one of Ortega, Calhoun and McKinney could open the season with considerable playing time in left field to begin the year if they impress in spring training. Ortega made his major-league debut in 2012 with the Colorado Rockies and has played in six seasons, hitting .250/.322/.361 with a .683 OPS, 21 home runs, 101 RBI, 120 runs scored and 41 stolen bases in 364 games. Last year in a career-high 118 games with the Chicago Cubs, he hit .241/.331/.358 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs and 12 stolen bases in 371 plate appearances.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega will take a seat on Friday against the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carlos Rodon. It will be the third straight game that Ortega has started on the bench. He's hit .191 (4-for-21) with four RBI and nine strikeouts in eight games over the last two weeks and only has four hits in 19 at-bats (.211) against southpaws in 22 plate appearances in 2022. In his place, Christopher Morel will start in left field and bat ninth on Friday against Rodon. The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .248/.312/.443 on the season with 13 home runs, 38 RBI, 49 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 323 at-bats, but he'll have low upside in DFS in the nine-hole.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates and left-handed starter Jose Quintana. Ortega had a breakout year in 2021 for the Cubs, hitting .291 with a .360 on-base percentage, 11 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in 330 plate appearances. So far this season, he's batting .167 with a .500 on-base percentage and a pair of runs scored in 10 plate appearances. The Cubs will go with Ian Happ, Michael Hermosillo, and Seiya Suzuki from left to right in the outfield in a good matchup against Quintana. The veteran pitched to a 6.43 REA and a 4.66 FIP in 63 innings last season and allowed 15 hits, 11 earned runs, four home runs, and three walks in nine innings during Spring Training with Pittsburgh.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega is hitting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter on Opening Day on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. Jason Heyward is starting in center field and batting seventh. Ortega has a big challenge ahead of him against last year's National League Cy Young winner, making him tough to get behind as a cheap DFS option. The 30-year-old hit an impressive .291/.360/.463 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 44 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 330 plate appearances over 103 games in his first year with the Cubs in 2021, and he could be a fixture atop the Cubs lineup against right-handers in 2022.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Thursday's victory versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ortega sent a blast to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game 3-3 at the time. The outfielder has mainly been leading off in the second half and has been putting together a solid season for the Cubs. For the season, Ortega is now hitting .293 with nine home runs and 29 RBI. Even though he is leading off, the Cubs present one of the worst offenses in the league and he is no guarantee to generate runs on a consistent basis. His best option to help fantasy managers are in deeper mixed leagues, but there may be more intriguing options at this point of the season.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega went 1-for-4 with four RBI in Saturday's victory versus the Chicago White Sox. Ortega's lone hit was a big one, when he hit a grand slam off of Lance Lynn in the top of the fourth inning to extend the Cubs lead to 6-0. Ortega has been leading off for the Cubs in the second half of the season and is now hitting a respectable .297 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. Ortega's best value moving forward is in deeper NL-only leagues.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega starred as the hero in Monday's victory versus the Colorado Rockies. Ortega sent a two-run rocket to right field to send the crowd home in the bottom of the ninth inning and give the Cubs their first home victory in 12 games. It was his only hit in four at-bats and he also drew a walk and scored twice on the evening. The career journeyman has carved out a nice role with the Cubs this season and is now hitting .306 with seven home runs, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases. Ortega has done a little bit of everything and is worth a look in deeper mixed leagues.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega will sit on Friday versus the Miami Marlins. Ortega has been having a very solid second half and has become a regular with the Cubs dealing away Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Joc Pederson. Ortega has been leading off for the Cubs and is hitting .396 with four home runs and 13 RBI over his last 30 games. For the season, Ortega is hitting .333 with six home runs, 17 RBI and seven stolen bases. Ortega is worth a look in deeper mixed leagues with the way he has been hitting and the opportunity that he will have the rest of the season. Replacing Ortega on Friday will be outfielder Johneshwy Fargas. Fargas is hitting .289 with four RBI and one stolen base in 39 at-bats with the New York Mets and Cubs this season. Fargas will bat seventh against Jesus Luzardo and is a dart throw in DFS this evening.
