Mets Add More Infield Depth And Versatility

As the deadline approaches for the New York Mets to trim three players from their 40-man roster so they could reach the required number, they have engaged in a series of moves.

The first came on Sunday when the team announced that it had outrighted four players off the roster: outfielder Christian Pache, first baseman Eric Wagaman, right-handed pitcher Cameron Weston and left-hander Philip Abner, which left them with 39 players on the 40-man list.

That spot was quickly filled on Monday when the Mets announced the signing of infielder Christian Cairo to a two-way, or split, contract. That means Cairo will earn two different salaries depending on whether he is on the major- or minor-league roster, with him earning a pro-rated portion of his major-league salary for any time spent with the Mets in 2027.

The 25-year-old Cairo actually was a late 2026 addition to the organization when New York signed him on Sept. 15 after he had been designated for assignment and subsequently waived by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Cairo's professional career began in 2019 when he was taken in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the then-Cleveland Indians. He slowly worked through the ranks of the Cleveland system before spending the entire 2025 season at Triple-A Columbus.

Prior to the 2026 season, Cleveland released him and he was signed by the Phillies, who assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, PA. There, he hit .227 in 128 games with four home runs, 35 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. He did exhibit an improving eye at the plate with 90 walks to only 76 strikeouts, which helped him compile a .378 OBP before the Phillies chose to release him.

In seven minor-league seasons, Cairo is a .226 hitter with a .674 OPS, 73 doubles, 21 homers, 170 RBIs and 130 stolen bases.

While he has no true carrying offensive skill, he does offer versatility in the field. In those seven minor-league seasons, he has played 177 games at third base, 171 at second base and 158 at shortstop with 84 games in the outfield, including 67 in left.

In all that time and with all that moving around, he has played 1,265.1 innings in the field and committed just 20 errors in 538 total chances, for a fielding percentage of .963.

Cairo enters a 2027 Mets' infield picture that would appear to continue to have second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Francisco Lindor at the keystone positions, but with the full-time third base and utility infield spots seemingly up for grabs. Battling for those positions would appear to be Brett Baty, who can also play first, and Ronny Mauricio, while former Los Angeles Angels' prospect Kyren Paris was added to the list when he was claimed off waivers from the Halos on Thursday.