The New York Mets have made a late-season roster move, claiming 25-year-old infielder off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
The move was announced Tuesday, September 15, as the Mets prepared to continue their series against the Baltimore Orioles. New York had already been eliminated from postseason contention following Monday night’s loss to Baltimore, but the club is still evaluating players and looking to finish the season on a positive note.
Cairo spent the 2026 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley after joining the Phillies organization earlier this year. The right-handed hitter has spent seven seasons in the minor leagues and has experience playing multiple positions around the infield.
Although Cairo has not produced much power this season, he has shown an impressive ability to control the strike zone. According to MLB Trade Rumors, he led the International League in walks and actually walked more often than he struck out.
In 516 plate appearances, Cairo hit .227 with a .378 on-base percentage and a .298 slugging percentage. He finished with four home runs, 15 doubles and one triple. His 17.4% walk rate was notably higher than his 14.7% strikeout rate.
The Mets have opted to send Cairo to Triple-A Syracuse following the waiver claim, meaning he will initially provide additional organizational depth rather than immediately joining New York’s major-league lineup.
For the Mets, the move is primarily about adding another versatile young player to their minor-league system. With the club already out of the playoff race, the organization has an opportunity to evaluate potential depth pieces and determine whether they could contribute to the major-league roster in the future.
Cairo will now get a fresh opportunity within the Mets system after spending the first part of his season with Philadelphia. His versatility and strong plate discipline could make him an intriguing depth option for New York heading into the offseason.
