Amid growing speculation surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies’ interest in former Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette, it’s easy to overlook that the team has already added a young shortstop this offseason. While Bichette is unlikely to remain at shortstop long term and with three-time All-Star Trea Turner firmly entrenched at the position the Phillies’ latest move was more about organizational depth than headline appeal.
On December 19, the Phillies quietly signed 24-year-old free-agent infielder Christian Cairo, a transaction that did not immediately appear on the team’s official log. The move was designed to strengthen the club at the Triple-A level while also providing coverage in case of injuries at the major-league level.
Cairo spent the 2025 season in Triple-A within the Cleveland Guardians system after being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He had remained in the Guardians organization throughout his minor-league career, aside from a brief detour last spring when he joined the Atlanta Braves for spring training following his selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Although his offensive production has been modest owning a .672 OPS across 469 minor-league games Cairo has steadily progressed through the minors and now has ample Triple-A experience, positioning him as a viable depth option if needed in Philadelphia.
Adding to the intrigue, Cairo is the son of former major-league catcher Miguel Cairo, who enjoyed a lengthy MLB career spanning nearly 1,500 games and included a stint with the Phillies in 2009. While Christian Cairo may not make headlines or even see significant time in the majors this season, his signing highlights how subtle offseason moves can play an important role in roster flexibility, especially as larger dominoes like a potential Bichette signing—continue to loom over the Phillies’ plans.
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