The D-backs and outfielder Cristian Pache have agreed to a minor league deal, experiences Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Pache, a consumer of MVP Sports activities Group, will head to spring coaching as a non-roster invitee and compete for a bench job.
The 26-year-old Pache break up the 2024 season between the Phillies, Orioles and Marlins. A lights-out defender with an anemic bat, Pache posted a mixed .200/.273/.279 batting line with an alarming 35% strikeout fee in 183 plate appearances on the season. He’s out of minor league choices, so none of these golf equipment ever had the prospect to ship Pache down for added work.
As soon as one of many sport’s high prospects with the Braves, Pache was all the time considered an elite defender whose future would hinge on whether or not the bat would come round. That’s nonetheless but to occur. He’s seen 610 plate appearances between the Braves, A’s, Phillies, Orioles and Marlins however managed solely a .181/.243/.275 line (46 wRC+). Accidents have maybe contributed — he had each elbow and knee surgical procedure in 2023 — however that alone can’t clarify away the extent of his struggles within the majors.
Although he’s by no means proven that he can hit within the majors — and even all that a lot in Triple-A — Pache has posted superlative defensive grades. Scouts and defensive metrics agree that he’s sensational within the area, evidenced by profession marks of 12 Defensive Runs Saved and 17 Outs Above Common in simply 1503 large league innings.
Pache’s glove alone would make him a wise sufficient depth pickup for any crew, significantly on a minor league deal like this one. He matches the D-backs higher than most, nevertheless, as he presents a right-handed complement to Jake McCarthy, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll. Pache can play any of the three outfield spots, and whereas he’s probably not a real platoon possibility, his profession .230/.299/.370 (87 wRC+) in opposition to lefties no less than makes him playable when there’s a southpaw on the bump.
The D-backs have drawn commerce curiosity in outfielders like McCarthy and Thomas, although it appears unlikely there’s any correlation at play. Reasonably, the Snakes doubtless pounced on the chance to herald a plus-plus defender who may complement their present outfield properly and achieve this at a negligible value with none actual threat.
