2) Luis Ortiz
Signed on the same day as Gose, Luis Ortiz is another minor league free agent with an unspectacular track record. At 29 with 34 innings of big league experience, this former 30th overall pick has a 4.98 ERA at the Triple-A level. What do the Mets see in him?
Lower strikeout numbers than you’d want, this seems like one of those moves we’ll hardly remember the team ever made. He barely pitched at all last year due to injury. In 2023, a 3.32 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies in limited action hardly seems worth it with a 1.47 WHIP paired with it.
There’s no harm in signing Ortiz to a minor league deal. Rationalizing it is up to the front office who apparently saw enough to believe there’s more to give.
One good thing about Ortiz is he has a minor league option remaining. It’s not very important if he never reaches the majors. A safe bet would be for him to never see the 40-man roster. If he does, that’s egg on my face. Nothing about this particular depth piece is interesting or justifiable. Just about anyone else can eat up a few innings which is the best he could hope for. The 2025 version of Ty Adcock? That’s who this is.