The Mets have signed outfielder and former top prospect Cristian Pache to a minor-league deal, per Pat Ragazzo of Mets on SI.
Pache’s contract features a non-roster invitation to big-league camp next spring.
The Mets are in the market for outfielders this winter after trading Brandon Nimmo to Texas in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien.
Top position player prospect Carson Benge will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot next spring and outfielder Tyrone Taylor is also in the running for playing time.
Expect the Mets to be active on the open market for other outfield upgrades. They could look to sign a top-tier free agent like Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker or swing another high-profile trade for an outfielder like Luis Robert Jr., Lars Nootbaar, Jake Meyers or Jarren Duran.
Pache, 27, comes to the Mets after a full year out of the big leagues. He spent all of last season in the Diamondbacks organization, appearing in 70 games with their Triple-A affiliate. Pache’s last taste of MLB action was back in 2024 when he played in 88 games with three different teams, batting .200 with a .552 OPS.
The outfielder came up in the Braves system and was considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball when he was dealt to the Athletics in the blockbuster Matt Olson trade in March of 2022.
Over 251 MLB games across parts of five years, Pache is a .181 hitter with seven home runs and 188 strikeouts. He’s considered a quality defender with elite arm strength and speed to cover ground at all three outfield positions.
