The days immediately following the MLB trade deadline often produce a second wave of roster movement, as contenders reshuffle their depth charts and organizations look to make the most of the myriad comings and goings.

And for a team like the New York Mets, which tore down much of its roster amid a disappointing season, that second wave included a sudden surge of new faces joining the roster.

Former Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder Lands With New York Mets After Dramatic Trade Deadline

Among the changes the Mets have made to fill their roster after sending a number of veterans to other teams on Monday was the decision to promote a former outfielder from the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.

“Mets promotions/recalls to active roster, per league sources: Dedniel Núñez, Jefry Yan, Nate Lavender, Chayce McDermott, Xzavion Curry, Cristian Pache,” The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported.

Phillies fans will notice Pache’s name among those roster additions. He was once seen as a potential everyday outfielder of the future for the National League East powerhouse, though the Phillies gave up on that experiment a while ago.

“Pache, 27, is a dynamic athlete and was once one of the top prospects in baseball,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “Unfortunately, he could never really hit in the majors or even at the Triple-A level. That has resulted in him bouncing around the league as a glove-first depth outfielder.”

Philadelphia Phillies Castoff Gets Another Chance With Division Rival New York Mets

Philadelphia acquired Pache from the Oakland Athletics just before the 2023 season, believing his elite defense could make him a worthy outfield piece despite questions about his offensive production.

“The Phillies made a bet that, at the very least, Pache can be a plus defender in center field and hold his own in sporadic starts against left-handed pitchers,” Matt Gelb and Melissa Lockard reported for The Athletic at the time. “He does not have a track record of hitting in the majors, so it’s a real project for veteran hitting coach Kevin Long. But Pache fits in the larger picture of the Phillies’ roster.”

Pache appeared in 98 games for the Phillies over two seasons, batting just .218 before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Austin Hays at the 2024 deadline.

While Pache never developed into an everyday player in Philadelphia, he flashed the defensive ability that made him one of baseball's most highly regarded prospects earlier in his career. Now he'll attempt to carve out a role with a Mets club hoping for a pleasant surprise after it tore down its roster.