Phillies reportedly sign former Marlins, Braves outfielder to minor league contract

The Phillies have signed former Marlins, Braves and Pirates outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training, according to Mike Rodriguez.

Cruz, 28, had success earlier in his career as a member of the Marlins, but has struggled in the big leagues over the last two seasons. In his first three years with Miami, Cruz slashed .263/.311/.420 in 1,200 plate appearances. He batted .191 in 16 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2025.

De La Cruz finished the year at Triple-A with the Yankees organization, posting a .796 OPS in 369 at-bats.

De La Cruz could compete for a bench spot with the Phillies in spring training. Weston Wilson will come to camp without minor league options. Johan Rojas and Otto Kemp are another pair of right-handed hitting outfielders ahead of De La Cruz in the depth chart. All three are more likely to make the Opening Day roster over De La Cruz, though it’s worth taking a flier on a player who once hit 21 home runs in the majors.