Phillies Add Player Amid MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 4:43 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies are entering the offseason with hopes of retooling the roster and finally advancing past the NLDS, where they have suffered postseason exits in back-to-back years.

Fortunately for the front office, much of the core remains intact from the group that delivered consecutive first-place finishes in the NL East, including a 96–66 record this season. However, regular season success has not translated into deep playoff runs.

The biggest storyline centers on whether Philadelphia will retain designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, but the outfield remains a pressing priority as well. Both Harrison Bader and Max Kepler are entering unrestricted free agency, while Nick Castellanos is a prime candidate to be moved as he enters the final year of his contract.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59)© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

As a result, the Phillies addressed organizational depth in the outfield on Tuesday. According to MLB reporter Mike Deporter, Philadelphia inked journeyman outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a one-year minor league contract.

He will receive an invite to spring training with a chance to be added to the big-league roster with a strong performance.

Según mis fuentes, el dominicano Bryan De La Cruz llegó a un acuerdo con los Phillies de Philadelphia. Firmó un contrato de un año de ligas menores y le dieron una invitación para los campos de entrenamiento.#BryanDeLaCruz #Phillies pic.twitter.com/mTQWW7ALIG
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) November 6, 2025

De La Cruz is now with his fifth organization after previous stints with the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old debuted in 2021 with Miami and was once considered a promising prospect thanks to his raw power and athleticism.

However, he has struggled to establish himself as a consistent big-league hitter. In 2025, he appeared in 16 games for Atlanta, posting a .191 batting average, .240 on-base percentage and .453 OPS across 47 at-bats.

Despite the limited production, his defensive versatility and experience make him a viable candidate to compete for a bench role in Philadelphia. If he performs well in spring training, De La Cruz could earn a spot as a platoon option in the corner outfield, similar to how Castellanos was deployed late in the 2025 season. The Phillies are hoping to find value in depth pieces like De La Cruz as they look to reinforce their lineup without overspending.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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