The Mets announced this morning that they’ve signed veteran outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor league deal. Ortega, a client of Prestige Sports, will be in spring training as a non-roster invitee to camp. The Mets also confirmed their previously reported minor league deal with infielder Donovan Walton.

He’ll also be a non-roster invitee in camp, the club added. Ortega, 33, will be in his second stint with the Mets organization. He played the bulk of the 2023 season there, logging 30 Triple-A games and another 47 big league contests.

The lefty-swinging Ortega filled a bench role with the Mets in ’23, hitting . 219/. 341/.

272 with a homer and six steals in 136 plate appearances that season. He’s a career . 245/.

322/. 349 hitter in 1301 plate appearances as a big leaguer, dating back to his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2012. Ortega has extensive experience at all three outfield positions in his big league career, though he’s spent the bulk of his time in center field.

He’s spent at least some time in the majors in each of the past four seasons, most prominently with the Cubs in 2021-22, when he batted a combined . 265/. 344/.

408 in 701 turns at the plate. The Mets saw outfielders Harrison Bader and Jesse Winker reach free agency at season’s end, and they’ve already outrighted outfielder DJ Stewart off the roster and seen him elect free agency as well. Ortega replenishes some outfield depth and provides center field insurance in a way that neither Winker nor Stewart could.

For the time being, Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte top the outfield depth chart in Queens, but there will assuredly be changes as the team pursues various free agents — headlined, of course, by Juan Soto. This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.