New York Yankees fans react to team reportedly releasing outfielder Rafael Ortega: "That makes no sense" "I hate this team"
Confusion is reigning with New York Yankees fans following a report by MLB Trade Rumors' Steve Adams that the team is releasing outfielder Rafael Ortega.
Ortega, signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees this offseason, had an opt-out clause in the deal if he did not make the major league roster.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has yet to announce the team's final roster, as Ortega was battling with Willie Calhoun and Estevan Florial for a backup outfielder role.
Yankees Release Rafael Ortega mlbtraderumors.com/2023/03/yankee… https://t.co/cqFaDdVilU
Many New York Yankees fans were unhappy with the report. While Ortega will not be confused with Aaron Judge, he was a reliable .250 hitter over six major league seasons with five different teams. He played 221 games with the Chicago Cubs over the past two years, hitting .265 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs, while providing solid defense.
Estevan Florial, a Yankees farm product, has hit just .185 in 29 games over three major league seasons, while Willie Calhoun hit .135 in 22 games with the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants last season.
If Ortega is actually released, then that makes no sense. Sure Florial has no options, though he hasn’t hit at all at the Major League level. Ortega provides everything Florial can give defensively along with better offense and Major League experience. twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
They kept dog shit Florial instead 😂 twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
can't wait for florial to go 1/20 and see people say "he just needs consistent playing time!" twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
The confusion in Yankee Nation pretains to who has been released, if anyone. As noted, the New York Yankees have yet to put out a final opening day roster. Earlier reports on Tuesday declared that the team was retaining Ortega and dropping Florial.
@mlbtraderumors I’ve never seen so much confusion over something like this. First Flo was released and Ortega is on the roster. Then both were going to NY and now Ortega is released 🤷♂️
Idk if this is true or not but I haven’t heard anything of Boone saying something about it twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
False no source said this twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
While it came as a bit of a surprise that the Cubs did not retain Ortega, who performed admirably for a rebuilding club, it is even more of a surprise that the Yankees would entertain releasing him given the state of the team's outfield.
Center fielder Harrison Bader will miss opening Day due to an oblique strain, while likely left fielder Aaron Hicks' tendency to not get hits has Yankees fans ready to dump him in the Hudson River.
He was good twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
@mlbtraderumors Should’ve won the job
And, of course, it wouldn't be the New York Yankees without a fan base full of angst and hatred.
I HATE THIS TEAM twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
FUCK THIS TEAM twitter.com/mlbtraderumors…
New York Yankees considering a pre-opening day trade
Time is drawing short, but according to reports on Monday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has not ruled out making a trade before opening day on Thursday.
The team has serious injury-based deficiencies in the outfield, as well as the starting staff, while it does seem to boast a surplus of middle infielders now that rookie Anthony Volpe has been named the Yankees' opening day shortstop.