The Cubs declined to tender Ortega a contract for 2023, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
With that, Ortega is now a free agent. This comes just a little over a year after Ortega's incredible run in his debut with the Cubs (.291/.360/.463 line, 11 homers and 12 steals in his first 103 games). As is often the case, the league started pitching him differently and the results suffered. Ortega is already 31 but figures to stick around the league for now as a reserve outfielder.