The Angels signed outfielder Rafael Ortega to a one-year deal Tuesday. Ortega was signed to a major league deal even though he was a minor league free agent.
Ortega, 24, can be optioned, and he will make slightly more than a prorated portion of the major league minimum for any time he's in the majors.
Offering him a major league deal just puts him on the 40-man roster.
Ortega has appeared in just two major league games, going 2 for 4 for Colorado in 2012
A left-handed hitter, Ortega hit .286 with a .745 OPS in Triple-A in the Cardinals system in 2015.