After losing to the eventual World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Philadelphia Phillies headed into an intriguing offseason full of uncertainty. How would the Phillies upgrade their club? Which direction will they go?
Although not a major signing, the Phillies made their first free-agent move of the offseason on Thursday. According to reports, the Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
The right-handed outfielder hasn't contributed much at the Major League level since being traded to Pittsburgh in 2024. Before that, he was a solid player with the Miami Marlins. From 2021 to 2024, De La Cruz slashed .258/.305/.419 in the big leagues. He's a swing-first hitter with some pop. In 2024, he hit 21 home runs between Miami and Pittsburgh.
Even in 2025, De La Cruz did have some success in Triple-A. In 91 games with the Yankees organization, he hit .271 with a .796 OPS.
Going into 2026, the Phillies' biggest question marks lie in the outfield. Adding an outfielder who helped contribute in the majors just two years ago will help the Phillies grow their talent pool heading into Spring Training.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski already stated that Max Kepler would not be back in 2026. Many expect the Phillies to part ways with veteran right fielder Nick Castellanos after a season in which he had an 88 OPS+ with a -1.7 dWAR. Plus, Harrison Bader declined his side of his mutual option. All of these factors could spell a completely different-looking outfield in 2026.
Bryan De La Cruz is just the first piece of the puzzle for the Phillies. Don't be surprised if they continue to add Minor League contracts for additional competition in Spring Training. Their lack of depth heading to Florida last season was one of the noticeable failures of the 2024-25 offseason.
