The Mets added another relief option on Sunday, signing right-hander Oliver Ortega to a minor league contract, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
Per Morosi, Ortega’s contract includes an invite to major league spring training.
A 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Ortega has pitched in 45 major league games over parts of three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins. He owns a career 4.03 ERA and has struck out 7.9 hitters per nine innings.
After being claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros ahead of last season, a pair of elbow surgeries kept him of the mound. Last March, Ortega had surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, and he then underwent a second surgery to a remove a bone spur in that elbow in June.
Ortega joins a list of low-risk, potential 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 off waivers).
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