THE Dishes added another relief option Sunday, signing a right-hander Olivier Ortega to a minor league contract, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
According to Morosi, Ortega’s contract includes an invitation to major league spring training.
A 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Ortega appeared in 45 major league games over three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins. He owns a career ERA of 4.03 and has struck out 7.9 batters per nine innings.
After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros before last season, two elbow surgeries kept him off the mound. Last March, Ortega underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, then he underwent a second surgery to remove a bone spur in that elbow in June.
Ortega joins a list of low-risk, potentially high-reward reliever contracts that the Mets have handed out this offseason, with the list also including Dylan Covey, Justin Hagenman, And Kevin Herget (claimed on waivers).
