Atlanta made a signing today, and it definitely wasn’t the one everyone was hoping for. Rafael Ortega is coming back on a minor league deal.
I have no real problem with this move. Ortega provided us with one of the most clutch moments of last season, and he played pretty well in Gwinnett:
AAA: .285/.373/.524/.898 with 21 HR
With there being a chance Ender Inciarte is moved and the injury history of this outfield group, it’s a smart signing to stash some depth in AAA. For a team looking to save in all areas to stash up money for Josh Donaldson, it’s a savvy move that will give us a guy who’s familiar with the clubhouse and won’t cause any payroll crunches. With Cristian Pache and Waters knocking on the door, they need another body in Gwinnett anyways. His major league stats are a concern, but if everything goes as planned, he won’t be in Atlanta in 2020.
We’ll keep you updated on any more Braves signings.