Rob Thomson's comments on Phillies bench battle make one candidate seem inevitable

As we begin March, the Philadelphia Phillies are in a very familiar position in spring training. Much of their roster is set with only a few Opening Day jobs up for grabs. In an annual tradition, they are auditioning a handful of players for the fourth and final bench spot, but a recent comment from manager Rob Thomson has given us a clue that it might be Dylan Moore who has the inside track.

Right now, the Phillies are looking at a bench consisting of backup catcher Rafael Marchán, incumbent reserve infielder Edmundo Sosa, and Otto Kemp who is poised for a left field platoon role, although he can play on the infield as well. So, doing the math, that leaves one spot.

It sure sounds like Rob Thomson wants a Dylan Moore-like player on Phillies' bench

An early favorite to earn that final reserve job is late offseason signing Moore. The 33-year-old veteran utility player signed a minor league deal at the end of January and brings a versatility that Thomson is looking for in a bench player (subscription required), according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb.

“For me, it’s probably a utility guy,” Thomson said last week about his ideal fourth bench player, per Gelb. “A super-utility guy. Whether it’s right-handed or left-handed, we’ll have to see as we get closer to the end. … We’ve got a couple of those guys running around, so we’ve got some options. We’re going to have some really tough decisions at the end — not just with our bullpen, but also on the bench, too.”

Moore fits the bill. He won a Utility Gold Glove in 2024, playing in 135 games all over the field for the Seattle Mariners. And when we say all over the field, that's not hyperbole. He saw time at first, second, third, and shortstop on the infield. He also played left field and appeared once in center but also has 108 career appearances in right.

It's still early days but Moore has gotten off to a slow start at the plate this spring, going 1-for-12 (.083) with five strikeouts. The Phillies didn’t sign him expecting much offense, however. Moore is a career .206 hitter with high strikeout rates but does offer value on the basepaths with above-average sprint speed and the ability to steal. He posted 32 steals in 441 plate appearances in 2024 and 14 steals in 243 plate appearances in 2025.

As Gelb notes, if it's not Moore then Christian Cairo, who saw time at six different positions in Triple-A last season, might be an option. The son of former Phillie Miguel Cairo is 2-for-9 with four strikeouts this spring. He also hasn’t played a game in the majors, which might weigh against him in the competition.

And of course you can't forget about some of the other players the Phillies brought to camp. Bryan De La Cruz and Pedro León are both vying for a backup outfielder spot, as is Johan Rojas.

Despite the Phillies' multiple options, it sounds like Thomson has an idea of what type of player he wants on his bench. Regardless, Moore will still have to earn that Opening Day spot over the next month.