The Philadelphia Phillies had to make a move for their inevitable vacancy in right field, and they filled it with former Texas Rangers slugger Adolis García. García wasn't initially on the Phillies' radar coming into the offseason, but him being non-tendered in November opened the door to signing a one-year, $10 million contract.
As explained by Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, García will slot into right field, making him the everyday right fielder in 2026 (subscription required), according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb. The desire is for García to provide a spark, something that has been lacking in a stumbling Phillies outfield for a few seasons now.
García is also a great personality and something that Phillies fans can gravitate towards come 2026. The patient optimism of the deal panning out is warranted, but some fans' minds may be at ease after hearing how García feels about coming to Philadelphia.
Adolis García is excited about helping the Phillies out any way he can
After his signing became official, García spoke to the media remotely about what it means for him to come to Philadelphia in free agency.
"It's a great team, it's a great town," García said through translation. "I like the way they compete, and I like to compete. I love the dynamic of the team, that was the biggest intrigue about me coming here.
"I want to get to be able to focus on being a better version of myself, to add a piece to this winning team. There's a great team involved. I just want to go and play my defense and hopefully my bat will be there. I just want to be a piece to contribute to this good team."
Phillies fans should appreciate the modest approach from García. What the Phillies need more than just slug or grit out of their free agent signings is someone who is embracing the winning culture and helping the team succeed. The 32-year-old is more than capable of doing that for the Phillies, as he brings a different look to right field.
García's swing and miss can be similar to that of Nick Castellanos' but his raw power has a higher ceiling, paired with elite defense and an arm to match. He's two years removed from his 2023 All-Star campaign in Texas when he hit 39 home runs and sported an .836 OPS, finishing 14th in AL MVP voting. He also was a huge catalyst in the Rangers winning their first World Series title.
He's taken a skid the last two seasons, suffering minor injuries along the way, but the Phillies have faith that he can balance the outfield nicely with the debut of top prospect Justin Crawford and current outfielder Brandon Marsh.