Stuart Fairchild is back on the market after electing free agency, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The Guardians designated the outfielder for assignment last week, he cleared outright waivers, and because he has three years of MLB service, he has the right to choose free agency.
Cleveland’s move came when the club promoted top prospect Cooper Ingle. Ingle is listed as a catcher, but he’s more of a bat-first prospect, and the Guardians - a team that emphasizes catcher defense more than any other - don’t really seem to trust him behind the plate. The plan is for Ingle to platoon with righty-hitting David Fry in left field and also pick up some at-bats at designated hitter.
Fairchild, 30, spent about a month with the big-league club in a short-side platoon role in the outfield. He got into 14 games, drew seven walks, and had three hits while striking out in 14 at-bats. The Wake Forest product has now appeared in parts of six major league seasons and owns a career .221/.309/.377 line with a 28% strikeout rate in just under 700 plate appearances.
Before his call-up, Fairchild was raking at Triple-A Columbus, where he hit .289/.417/.479 in 40 games. That kind of production has been a theme for him in the minors; he’s been an excellent Triple-A hitter throughout his career.
Fairchild also brings value with his athleticism and defense, which makes him a useful upper-minors depth option. The catch is that he’s out of minor league options, which cuts down on the roster flexibility for any team that brings him in.
In Other News...
Guardians Rookie Faces More Heat As Rough Lesson Continues
Cooper Ingles growing pains in left field continued against the White Sox, where the Guardians rookie was charged with his second error in two games after dropping a fly ball. The miscue stood out because Ingle is still a catcher by trade and is only beginning to learn the demands of a new position after a recent promotion.
Stephen Vogt has already tried to frame the situation as part of the learning curve, urging Ingle to move past the first mistake and keep playing. For Cleveland, the larger question is how quickly a player with so little outfield experience can settle in while the club keeps asking him to handle a spot that is still very new to him. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Breakout Star On The Verge Of Recognition
Parker Messick has gone from an afterthought in spring training to one of the most interesting pitchers in Clevelands season, giving the Guardians a legitimate breakout arm at a time when they needed one. The left-hander has paired steady results with strong underlying metrics, and his 2.85 ERA has put him among the American Leagues better starters while earning attention well beyond the clubhouse.
With All-Star rosters still not finalized, Messick is suddenly in the conversation as a possible first-time selection, which would be a remarkable turn for a pitcher who was not expected to be in the rotation out of camp. He has already turned heads inside the game, and the next step is whether that recognition turns into a trip to the midsummer showcase, something he has made clear would carry real meaning for him. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Seized Control Of The Central In Unbelievable Fashion
Chicago had spent much of the night looking like the sharper team, jumping on Cleveland early and putting the Guardians in a familiar chase mode at Progressive Field. But the home team kept hanging around, and the game turned into the kind of late-inning grind that can change the feel of a season, especially when first place in the AL Central is sitting there for the taking.
Brayan Rocchio delivered the swing that made it happen, a two-run shot in the ninth that sent Cleveland home with a 6-5 win and its second walk-off victory of his career. The result pushed the Guardians into sole possession of first in the division on a percentage basis, another reminder of how quickly a race can flip when a club keeps finding ways to finish. [Read more 🡒]