Not long after being cast off the Atlanta Braves' 40-man roster, outfielder Stuart Fairchild has already landed on his feet – and with a bonafide playoff contender, no less.
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired Fairchild from the Braves for cash after placing infielder Brandon Lowe on the 10-day injured list. The move comes just one day after the Braves designated Fairchild for assignment to open up a roster spot for veteran catcher Sandy Leon, whose contract had been selected from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Fairchild, whom the Braves acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for cash during the first week of the 2025 season, had held limited role as a fourth outfielder with Atlanta this season. He appeared in 28 games and tallied just 55 plate appearances, during which he slashed .216/.273/.333. Typically deployed as a late defensive replacement or a pinch-runner, Fairchild tallied two or fewer plate appearances in 20 of his 28 games this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays have placed INF Brandon Lowe (left ankle/foot tendinitis) on the 10-day IL (retro July 20) and acquired OF Stuart Fairchild from the Braves for cash considerations.
— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) July 22, 2025
Fairchild will wear No. 20. (1/2)
Braves trade recently DFA'd outfielder Stuart Fairchild to Rays in roster shuffle
In Fairchild, the Braves lose a viable fourth outfielder with above-average defense. His struggles against right-handed pitching, however, have often overshadowed his elite foot speed in the outfield and on the base paths. With Eli White carrying a comparable skill set, Fairchild ultimately became redundant on the Braves' roster and was the odd man out once they selected the contract of Leon.
A former second-round pick out of Wake Forest University, Fairchild now brings depth and versatility to a Rays team hoping to make a postseason run this year. The 29-year-old can play all three outfield positions, and his right-handed bat produces at an above average clip against left-handed pitching.
The Rays transferred right-hander Manuel Rodriguez from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to open a spot for Fairchild on the 40-man roster. Fairchild is out of minor league options, so the Rays will have to carry him on their Major League roster or designate him for assignment once again if he hasn't carved out a spot for himself by the time Lowe is activated off the IL.
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