NY Mets spring training: 1 minor league addition we should be more excited for

Without question, this was one of the best offseasons in New York Mets history. From signing the biggest free agent in MLB history in Juan Soto to retaining key pieces like Pete Alonso and Sean Manaea, there's a lot to like from this offseason. However, the additions made at the minor league level are lost in all these big-impact moves.

Although these deals are normally nothing more than depth signings, they have been able to make an impact at the major league level. Arguably, the most important free agent signing last offseason, Jose Iglesias, was signed to a minor league deal. Now, it's unlikely any of the minor league signings will have the impact Iglesias did; there is a guy who can make an impact for the major league club. That being Oliver Ortega.

Why Oliver Ortega can be a quaility signing for the Mets

Arguably, Ortega has been one of the most unluckiest players in the MLB over the past few seasons. Back in 2023, in the middle of a decent season, Ortega was placed on the injured list with a left lumbar strain. This ended up cutting Ortega's season short. Things only got worse in 2024, as a week before the season started, it was announced he'd be undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. He was expecting to miss three to four months, but in June, it was revealed that he had bone spurs in the same elbow, ending his season before it even started.

While his injury history is concerning, when Ortega has been on the mound, he's posted decent numbers. Over his three big league seasons, he's pitched to a 4.03 ERA, with 51 strikeouts to 27 walks, a 1.414 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 105. His best season came back in 2022 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Over 34 innings, he pitched to a 3.71 ERA with 33 strikeouts to 18 walks, a 1.476 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 109.

What makes Ortega so interesting is the success he's had with his slider/sweeper. During his career year of 2022, opposing hitters had a batting average of .143 against and had a Whiff% of 41.7%. Now although you might say these numbers are misleading because he didn't throw it often, this is due to it being his put away pitch. Meaning, he mostly threw it in two-strike counts. However, with the Mets' pitching lab and development, they could look at these numbers and try to make it a bigger part of Ortega's game.

Although it might not seem like an impact move, Ortega could provide the Mets with a lot of value as minor league depth waiting in the minors.