The Nationals are set to hire Miguel Cairo as their new bench coach, as first reported by Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online. Cairo spent the 2023 season as a minor league infield coordinator in the Mets organization.
A versatile utility man, Cairo played 17 seasons in the major leagues, fielding six different positions for nine different teams. Immediately following his retirement after the 2012 season, Cairo took a job as a special assistant in the Reds’ front office and briefly served as the team’s interim bench coach. He then moved on to the Yankees organization, working in the player development department and as a minor league infield coordinator.
Ahead of the 2021 campaign, Cairo earned his first genuine big league coaching job, joining the White Sox as Tony La Russa’s bench coach. He was promoted to acting manager for the final month of the regular season (Larussa was on medical leave), and although he interviewed for the managerial opening that winter, he was not asked to return to new skipper Pedro Grifol’s staff in 2023. Instead, he took a job as a minor league infield coordinator with the Mets, a role he had previously held during his tenure with the Yankees.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez played alongside Cairo for parts of three seasons with the Devil Rays between 1998 and 2000. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports, the skipper has “always spoken highly” of his former teammate.
Cairo is the latest addition to Washington’s dugout this offseason. Last week, the team hired Gerardo Parra and Ricky Gutierrez to coach first and third base, respectively. The Nationals had several holes to fill after parting with bench coach Tim Bogar, first base coach Eric Young Jr., third base coach Gary DiSarcina, and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler at the end of the season.
This one belongs to the Reds
Good choice. Cairo is a good baseball man.
OIC2021
The Guardians are “in” on both Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler.
This one belongs to the Reds
Trying to figure out how that relates to Cairo hired by the Nationals, who I still want to call Senators.
mrmackey
Hair cuts for all.
LLGiants64
Man, I wish the Giants would hire a few more coaches with major league experience.
tedtheodorelogan
I’m just hoping Melvin remakes the coaching staff from top to bottom. Don’t want anyone Kapler hired on board next year.
GOAT Closer Esteban Yan
Congratulations to my former teammate. Devil Rays 4 life!
Hemlock
Nationals To Hire Miguel Cairo As Bench Coach
Woah. How much can he bench, bruh?
TheFuzzofKing
CJ Abrams is the only infielder we have who figures to be on the team for the next few years, so if Cairo hangs around he may eventually have an infield of simultaneously controllable players to coordinate!
Godspeed.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Haven’t heard his name in a long time. Didn’t realize he played for tbe Cubs,Yankees and Cardinals twice.
acoss13
Best thing to happen to Miguel Cairo was to be back with the White. Dodged one heck of a bullet!
Anyway, good dude, he’s going to thrive in DC.
Jacksson13
The Nationals search for a Bench Coach took them all the way to….
CAIRO !!
Jacksson13
The Nationals search for a Bench Coach too them all the way to…..
CAIRO !!
NattyLites
Miguel Cairo! Uh, don’t ya know!
lesterdnightfly
HIs uncle Joel Cairo was Kasper Gutman’s effete henchman in The Maltese Falcon.
paddyo furnichuh
Maybe great uncle
baseballteam
Cairo was great in The Maltese Falcon.
Rsox
Cairo was a solid voice in the kangaroo court that was the White Sox clubhouse and probably should’ve have been named Manager instead of Grifol. Nice get for the Nats coaching staff