Mets Sign Cristian Pache to Minor League Deal

The New York Mets have dipped into the depth market again. This time, they’re taking a flier on former top prospect Cristian Pache.

This move isn’t about offensive firepower. It’s about elite outfield defense, roster flexibility, and maybe squeezing value out of a once-hyped talent whose bat never caught up to his glove.

Mets Sign Cristian Pache: A Low-Risk Defensive Bet

The Mets just signed outfielder Cristian Pache to a minor league contract. He’ll get an invitation to major league spring training as a non-roster player.

It’s a classic depth play—cheap, flexible, and focused on shoring up outfield defense rather than boosting the lineup. Pache arrives in Flushing with a reputation that’s followed him since his Atlanta Braves prospect days: elite center field defense, but a frustratingly light bat.

A Former Top Prospect Still Searching for His Bat

Once, scouts saw Pache as one of the game’s premier young outfielders. His defensive gifts made him a darling in prospect circles.

But his offense just hasn’t matched the hype at the major league level. Across 610 MLB plate appearances, Pache owns a .181/.243/.275 slash line and a hefty 30.8% strikeout rate.

Those numbers have locked him into a defensive specialist role. It’s limited his chances to stick on big-league rosters for long.

Elite Center Field Defense Still Carries Value

Despite the weak bat, Pache’s glove is still a real weapon. He covers ground, tracks balls in the gap, and turns extra-base hits into loud outs as well as almost anyone.

For a Mets team that values run prevention and late-inning flexibility, that skill set matters. Over a 162-game season, injuries and matchups can force a manager’s hand.

Why the Mets Care About a Glove-First Outfielder

Pache brings:

In late-game situations, a defender like Pache can change how a manager handles tight leads. That’s especially true in spacious ballparks or against fly-ball-heavy pitching staffs.

A Bumpy Journey Through Four Organizations

Pache’s path to the Mets has been anything but straightforward. He rose through the Braves’ system, then landed in the blockbuster trade that sent Matt Olson to Atlanta and Pache to the Oakland Athletics.

That move showed how highly teams once valued him. Since then, he’s bounced through the Phillies, Orioles, and Marlins organizations.

Each stint told the same story: the glove plays, the bat does not.

Minor League Track Record: Modest, Not Breakthrough

At Triple-A, Pache has been serviceable but far from dominant. Over five seasons, he’s produced a .257/.332/.397 line—respectable, but not the kind that forces a call-up.

His 2025 stint in Reno, a hitter-friendly environment, actually came in around 20% below league average production. That’s troubling for a player trying to hit his way into a more permanent big-league role.

How Pache Fits the Current Mets Outfield Mix

Inside the Mets clubhouse, Pache gets compared to players like Tyrone Taylor, another glove-forward outfielder. The internal consensus: Pache is the better defender, but the weaker hitter.

That shapes how the Mets will likely use him. If he makes the team out of spring training or gets called up midseason, he’s not there for his bat.

Glove-First Depth, Not a Middle-of-the-Order Answer

The Mets’ expectations are clear: Pache is glove-first depth. He’s insurance for:

No one really expects him to contribute much at the plate. If he gives them anything above replacement-level offense, that’s a bonus.

Roster Math: No Options, Real Risk

Here’s a wrinkle: Pache is out of minor league options. That makes it tricky for the Mets to move him around during the season.

If he breaks camp with the big club, they have to keep him on the major league roster or risk losing him on waivers. Another team might just scoop him up.

A Smart, Low-Cost Gamble with Limited Upside

This move feels like a classic example of what modern front offices love to do. The Mets are taking a shot on a former top prospect, hoping his defensive floor can help, even if his offensive ceiling seems pretty limited.

If he manages to show anything with the bat, maybe this turns into a sneaky win. If not, well, the Mets aren’t risking much and can still get some defensive value while they keep looking for better outfield options.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mets Sign Cristian Pache To Minor League Contract