Based on reporting from independent baseball journalist Mike Rodriguez and Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies are slated to bring outfielder Bryan De La Cruz up to the major league roster on July 21. Gelb’s recent coverage had already suggested that a promotion for De La Cruz might be imminent. The Phillies are working toward gaining roster clarity in the period leading up to the August 3 trade deadline. De La Cruz had recently triggered his opt-out clause before re-signing with the organization on a major league contract. What the corresponding transaction will be to open a spot on the 26-man roster remains unresolved.
Over 84 minor league contests this year, De La Cruz has compiled a .269/.358/.448 slash line to go along with 12 home runs and 56 RBI. He also owns a 110 wRC+ and a .316 BABIP in the minors this season, with a 0.59 walk-to-strikeout ratio. On defense, he has logged 55 appearances in right field and six in left field during his minor league campaign. While De La Cruz has prior major league experience at all three outfield positions, he has not seen any action in center field since 2023. According to Gelb, the expectation is that De La Cruz will be deployed mostly against left-handed pitching.
Possible Corresponding 26-Man Roster Move
With De La Cruz being added to the active roster, the Phillies will have to clear space by optioning someone to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, designating a player for assignment, or moving someone to the injured list. The likeliest resolution may involve the team’s ongoing bench shuffle, specifically regarding the backup catcher role. Both Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán are out of minor league options. Stubbs has performed marginally better offensively than Marchán and would appear to have the inside track to remain as the backup catcher, which would likely result in Marchán being designated for assignment.
Immediate Implications For Phillies Roster
The promotion presumably sets up De La Cruz for an audition to stick on the Phillies’ 26-man roster past the August 3 trade deadline, though this appears to be a short-term arrangement. Additionally, Tommy Pham is reportedly working with a July 25 opt-out date in his minor league contract. The timing of De La Cruz’s call-up, coming so close to that opt-out date, could signal that Pham may not ultimately crack the Phillies’ active roster. De La Cruz’s limited defensive flexibility was previously a factor in the club’s decision to go with Dylan Moore for the Opening Day bench over him, but that situation has since shifted for a variety of reasons.
Trade Deadline Should See A Larger Fix For Outfield Issues
Neither De La Cruz nor Pham is likely to remain on the Phillies’ 26-man roster past the trade deadline, as devoting two of four bench spots to players who are strictly outfielders is not tenable over the long haul. However, the later trade deadline this season means there is a shorter window between that date and the September 1 roster expansion than usual. De La Cruz’s promotion represents one piece of the Phillies’ reshuffled outfield picture, which is expected to undergo additional alterations. Acquiring a right-handed-hitting outfield bat through trade ought to be a primary objective for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
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