In the wake of some of the names who have elected free agency this year, the Philadelphia Phillies have already begun to shape next year's roster before the frenzy of baseball's free agency officially began on Thursday evening.
According to MLB insider Mike Rodriguez, the Phillies have reached an agreement on a one-year minor league deal with 28-year-old Bryan De La Cruz. The outfielder elected free agency after being outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by the New York Yankees on Aug. 3.
De La Cruz agreed to a minor league contract with the hopes of making the big league roster out of spring training. His deal also included an invitation to compete for a spot on the team's major league club in Clearwater.
Phillies take a chance on former NL East rival Bryan De La Cruz
Heading into his age-29 season, De La Cruz was known for his power and speed during his time with fellow NL East competitor Miami Marlins. He has had a turbulent go of it since being moved in 2022, truly embodying the realities of being a professional baseball player.
In his tenure with the Marlins, he proved to be one of the most promising bats in the team's struggling young lineup, batting .263/.311/.420 in 1,200 plate appearances. He hit 19 home runs with 78 RBIs in a full 2023 season.
By no means was he a breakout star, but he had proven to be a reliable one-third of the Marlins' outfield, posting a 1.6 bWAR through the first three years of his major league career.
Bryan De La Cruz's solo shot ties the ballgame! 💪 pic.twitter.com/PKp3m3JEPs
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2024
He was traded from Miami to the Pittsburgh Pirates right before the 2024 trade deadline, headlining a deal between the two clubs in exchange for two minor league prospects. He finished the year hitting .233 with a .654 OPS and 21 home runs.
From that departure, so too went his consistency. This past year, the Atlanta Braves signed De La Cruz as a viable option for outfield depth. However, their plan ultimately failed, as he played only 16 games and batted .191 with a .453 OPS.
Against the Phillies, De La Cruz has fared pretty well, especially when hitting at Citizens Bank Park. With how much experience he's had playing in the division, his sample size is decent, posting a .248 batting average and a .739 OPS.
He's also managed to hit seven home runs against the Phillies, which is the most he's hit against a single team throughout his entire career. Perhaps that "mojo" he gets playing in Philadelphia can be amplified by representing the home team.
De La Cruz elected to play for the Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League this year, so fans have a chance to see this low-risk signing continue to work his way back to a major league roster.