CLEVELAND -- The Guardians have signed outfielder Stuart Fairchild to a Minor League deal, the club announced Saturday. The deal includes a non-roster invitation to big league Spring Training.
Fairchild, 29, has played parts of five seasons in the Majors with the D-backs, Mariners, Giants, Reds and Braves. Over 277 career games, he’s slashed .223/.305/.384, which included a .216/.273/.333 line in 55 plate appearances over 28 games with Atlanta this past season.
Over 94 games with Cincinnati in 2024, Fairchild logged career highs in homers (eight), RBIs (30), steals (13) and bWAR (1.0).
This past season, the Braves designated Fairchild for assignment on July 21 and traded him to the Rays one day later. Tampa Bay consequently placed him on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, and he did not appear in the Majors the rest of the season.
Fairchild hits right-handed and has experience playing all three outfield spots. At the least, he provides depth from the right side; the Guardians have only four right-handed hitters on their 40-man roster in David Fry, Austin Hedges, Gabriel Arias and Johnathan Rodríguez.
Cleveland DFA’d Jhonkensy Noel on Thursday and outfielder Lane Thomas signed with the Royals in free agency. Their outfield picture is nonetheless crowded and has around a dozen players in the fold, headlined by left fielder Steven Kwan while also featuring left-handed-hitting up-and-comers Chase DeLauter, George Valera and C.J. Kayfus.