Rangers outfielder Rafael Ortega was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Ortega had been designated for assignment by the Rangers on December 30 when the club acquired right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ortega was received on a waiver claim from Colorado on November 27. He batted .228 with one homer, 10 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 42 games for Double-A Tulsa in 2013. The left-handed batter was the Drillers' leadoff hitter and center fielder before sustaining a hairline fracture of his shin June 20 and missing the remainder of the season.
