The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be active before the MLB trade deadline, with one need standing above the rest: adding a reliable right-handed bat who can strengthen the outfield. While the front office is widely expected to explore the trade market, the club appears willing to give one internal option a final opportunity to prove he belongs before making a deal.
That opportunity belongs to Bryan De La Cruz, a former Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves outfielder who is set to receive a call-up after forcing his way onto the Phillies’ 40-man roster earlier this month through the upward mobility clause in his contract.
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, Philadelphia has little to lose by seeing whether De La Cruz can provide the offensive spark the lineup has been missing.
Phillies searching for answers in right field
The Phillies have struggled to replace injured right fielder Adolis Garcia, whose season was cut short by a lat injury. Although Garcia wasn’t producing at his usual level before getting hurt, his absence has exposed the club’s lack of right-handed depth, particularly against left-handed pitching.
Philadelphia’s lineup has consistently struggled in those matchups throughout the season, making the search for another right-handed hitter a top priority as the postseason race intensifies.
Before spending valuable prospects on a trade, however, the Phillies want to determine whether they already have a serviceable option within the organization.
Perfect timing for De La Cruz’s promotion
The timing of De La Cruz’s promotion is no coincidence.
The Phillies are scheduled to face several left-handed starters this week, including Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer during their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by a projected matchup with Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers over the weekend.
Those games provide the ideal environment to evaluate De La Cruz, who has traditionally handled left-handed pitching better than Philadelphia’s current options.
Over his Major League career, De La Cruz owns a respectable .267 batting average against left-handed pitchers, along with a 90 wRC+, numbers that significantly outperform current right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr., who has struggled badly against southpaws this season.
Given the Phillies’ ongoing offensive issues versus left-handed pitching, De La Cruz could immediately receive meaningful playing time if he performs well.
Can De La Cruz finally revive his MLB career?
While Phillies fans shouldn’t expect De La Cruz to instantly transform the lineup, he does arrive in Philadelphia playing some of the best baseball of his professional career.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, batting .269 with an .806 OPS, while collecting 12 home runs, 19 doubles, 56 RBIs, 83 hits, 45 runs scored, and 44 walks.
His production has been especially impressive over the past two months.
During June, De La Cruz hit .333 with a .980 OPS, and he followed that by batting an outstanding .394 with a 1.035 OPS in July, making him one of the hottest hitters in the International League.
That offensive surge convinced the Phillies to give him another chance in the majors before finalizing any trade deadline plans.
A final audition before the deadline
De La Cruz has shown flashes of offensive potential before.
In 2024 with the Miami Marlins, he hit 18 home runs in just 105 games, establishing himself as an emerging power hitter before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline.
However, his production dropped dramatically after the move, and an unsuccessful stint with the Atlanta Braves last season further damaged his standing after he struck out in more than one-third of his plate appearances.
Now, Philadelphia is offering him what could be one final opportunity to re-establish himself as a dependable Major League contributor.
The organization understands that De La Cruz is unlikely to become the long-term answer in right field. Nevertheless, if he performs well over the next several games against left-handed pitching, he could strengthen his case to remain on the roster even after the Phillies acquire another outfielder before the deadline.
If not, his stay in Philadelphia could be brief.
Either way, this promotion gives the Phillies valuable information before making one of the biggest decisions of their season. With the trade deadline only days away, the club is taking one last look at an internal solution before turning to the market in search of a postseason upgrade.
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