The Philadelphia Phillies have decided to retain two of their veteran stars and make another push for the World Series next season with a roster that looks largely unchanged. Their most significant moves were re-signing Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, suggesting that their postseason hopes will once again rest on much of the same core from last year.
However, there will be some adjustments around the edges of the roster. The team parted ways with outfielder Nick Castellanos and added Adolis García in his place. In the bullpen, Matt Strahm was traded, with Brad Keller brought in as a replacement. Additionally, top prospects Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford are expected to join the team by Opening Day.
The team is also considering a significant change for one of the last remaining bench spots on the big-league roster, with a former Gold Glove Award winner headlining the competition.
“The last spot is between Dylan Moore and Bryan De La Cruz, although league sources said the Phillies continue to seek potential alternatives who might be cut from other camps,” Matt Gelb reported for The Athletic. “Both have hit the ball hard this spring; De La Cruz has more results to show.”
Although De La Cruz has impressed more during preseason and the Phillies may still consider adding a bench player from outside the organization, Moore appears to have the edge in securing the final roster spot ahead of Opening Day.
If the Phillies choose not to place him on the 40-man roster, Gelb reports that he can opt out of his contract on Saturday.
Moore also has a strong track record. He brings seven years of major league experience, primarily with the Seattle Mariners, where he won a Gold Glove Award in 2024. While he posted a modest .201/.267/.374 batting line last season during stints with the Mariners and the Texas Rangers, his overall offensive performance has generally been better.
In addition, his versatility adds to his value—he has played every position except catcher, offering the kind of utility experience that could be especially useful for the Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies Veteran Dylan Moore Can Leave Team After A Roster Cut
It’s hard to say if a demotion to the minors would push Moore to exercise his option and seek a different opportunity. Even if he doesn’t make the big-league roster coming out of camp, he seems to have a fairly clear lane back to the majors with the Phillies should any of their other players suffer a setback.
“The question for the last bench spot is whether they want another outfielder, another utility type or someone who can function as both. Moore fits that middle,” Cole Weintraub wrote for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He’s spent a career being the guy teams turn to when they need someone who can do everything. Now he’s trying to make it his again.”
