The Phillies have quietly added veteran outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, signing him to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.
De La Cruz is a five-year major leaguer who spent part of last season with the Braves, appearing in just 16 big-league games before being claimed off waivers by the Yankees.
With the Yankees, he didn’t make it back to the majors, instead spending his time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .271 with 15 home runs over 91 games and posted a .796 OPS.
Earlier in his career with the Marlins, he flashed real power, hitting 13 home runs in 2022 and 19 in 2023, though his overall value was limited by below-average defense and low walk rates.
For the Phillies, this move is clearly about adding depth. Their outfield situation is unsettled heading into the offseason, especially with the possibility of roster changes involving players like Nick Castellanos.
Because it’s a minor-league contract, the risk is minimal. If De La Cruz performs well in camp or at Triple-A, he could become a useful depth option; if not, the Phillies aren’t committed to him long-term.
At around age 28, he’s still young enough that the Phillies may see some upside, especially given his previous power production and major-league experience.
Overall, the signing is a low-key, low-cost flyer — not a major roster shake-up, but a move that could pay off if De La Cruz manages to regain some of the offensive spark he showed earlier in his career.
