Ort landed in Houston early in the 2024 season on a waiver claim from Baltimore. The rest of the time, he averaged 2.55 over 22 games. Ort made a career-high 49 appearances last year, but couldn’t maintain the numbers he showed in a smaller sample size. He allowed 4.89 earned runs per nine over 46 innings.
The righty missed bats at an above-average clip and struck out more than a quarter of opponents. That came with a walk rate of almost 14%, but well above the 4.3% he had posted in his MLB work a year earlier. Ort also allowed a higher-than-average home run percentage for the third straight season. While manager Joe Espada preferred to use him in the middle innings, he was pressed in a few higher-leverage spots back then Josh Hader And Bennett Sousa were lost due to injury in August. That pushed Bryan Abreu in the closing role, leaving Ort as one of their more established right-handed lineup arms.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Ort to join his bullpen mates on the injured list. At the beginning of September he got an elbow infection. That meant he was out for the rest of the season. There’s no indication he won’t be ready for Spring Training, but he was already on the roster bubble. Ort is out of minor league options and approaching his 34th birthday.
Houston has Hader, Abreu, Sousa, Steven Okert And Bryan King in the season-opening bullpen, assuming health. Enyel De Los Santos And Nate Pearson They’re out of options and they’re close to breaking camp. Pearson signed a $1.35 million deal as a free agent, while De Los Santos is guaranteed a $1.6 million salary after avoiding arbitration. There wouldn’t have been much flexibility in maneuvering during the season if they had also carried Ort. He will be traded or placed on waivers within the next five days. Ort has less than three years of MLB service and no previous outright assignments, so the Astros could retain him as a non-roster invitee if he clears waivers.
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