The Mets have added another layer of infield depth, claiming Christian Cairo off waivers after the Phillies designated him for assignment over the weekend.
Philadelphia announced the move Tuesday. The Mets have not yet made it official, but the path is already open on their 40-man roster after they recently designated reliever Chris Devenski for assignment.
Cairo, 25, has yet to appear in the majors, but he’s spent the season giving Triple-A pitchers plenty to think about. With Lehigh Valley, he has drawn more walks than strikeouts, working at a 17.4% clip in walks against a 14.7% strikeout rate.
The production hasn’t translated into much impact at the plate, though. In 516 trips to the plate, he’s hitting .227 with a .227/.378/.298 line, along with four home runs, 15 doubles and a triple.
There’s more value in the speed-and-versatility package. Cairo has stolen 25 bases, though he’s also been caught 11 times, and he’s logged time all over the field this year at second base, shortstop, third base, left field and center field.
Cairo was Cleveland’s fourth-round pick in 2019 and signed for an overslot bonus just shy of $1MM. He later joined the Phillies as a minor league free agent last winter and was added to their 40-man roster at the end of spring training. Philadelphia optioned him right away after selecting his contract, and he never got a shot in the big leagues.
Scouting reports have long described him as a plus infield defender with good speed, but with bottom-of-the-scale power and a shaky hit tool. Because his first 40-man roster addition came this year, he received a full three option years and has already used one, leaving two beyond this season.
For the Mets, he’s the kind of multi-position depth piece that can be useful in a pinch. Whether he sticks on the roster beyond the offseason is another question, especially for a club still reshaping itself as it tries to get back to the postseason next year.
In Other News...
Phillies May Have Found An Expensive Answer To Their Outfield Problem
The Phillies have spent enough time looking for a long-term fix in the corner outfield that even an expensive option starts to make sense if it solves the problem cleanly. Seiya Suzuki fits that conversation because his recent work suggests a player who can handle right field and bring impact at the plate, which is exactly the kind of profile Philadelphia has been hunting as it tries to stabilize the edges of its lineup.
Suzukis appeal comes with the usual catch for a player in that tier: he is no bargain, and the age-and-contract side of the equation matters as much as the bat and glove. Still, the fit is easy to see for a Phillies club that wants more certainty in the outfield, and the question is less about whether Suzuki checks boxes than whether Philadelphia is willing to pay the kind of price a true answer at the position would require. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Already Second Guessing One Bullpen Deadline Decision
The Phillies went into the deadline looking for relief help and came away with Brooks Raley, a move that made sense at the time for a club trying to tighten up the back end of games. Since then, though, the fit has looked shakier. Raley has stumbled in recent appearances, and the kinds of late-inning spots Philadelphia wanted to stabilize have instead turned into fresh anxiety.
Relief markets are always part performance, part timing, and the Phillies are already facing the sort of hindsight that comes with every bullpen deal. Erik Miller, Luke Weaver and Tyler Wells all drew attention as alternatives because they were available and pitching well this season, which only sharpens the questions around Philadelphias choice. The season is still unfolding, but the early returns have made this one deadline call look far less certain than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Farm System Is Suddenly Getting Attention For A Big Reason
The Phillies farm system has been drawing more eyes than usual lately, and for good reason. Four prospects - Bryan Rincon, Francisco Renteria, Aidan Miller and Gage Wood - were all recently ranked among MLBs Top 100 prospects, a notable sign of how much talent is starting to stack up in the organization. Rincon, Miller and Wood have been producing in Philadelphias minor league chain, while Renteria has been building his case in the Dominican Summer League after standing out there.
For the Phillies, the timing makes the pipeline even more interesting. Rincon and Wood are with Double-A Reading, which is preparing for its playoff run, giving the organization a chance to watch two of its most followed young arms and bats in a pressure setting. Renterias rise has come without a stop in the traditional minor league affiliates yet, which only adds another layer to a system that suddenly looks worthy of a much closer look. [Read more 🡒]