The Phillies are hoping that Bryan De La Cruz‘ best days are not behind him. The veteran outfielder, who not long ago was a contributing member of the Miami Marlins outfield signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Phillies on Thursday, the first day that free agents were allowed to sign with new teams.

In three-plus seasons with Miami De La Cruz slashed .258/.305/.419/.724 prior to being traded to Pittsburgh where his career hit the skids. The Marlins dealt De La Cruz to Pittsburgh at the 2024 trade deadline for right-hander Jun-Seok Shim and third baseman Garret Forrester. At the time he was dealt De La Cruz had 18 home runs and 51 RBI and a slash line of .245/.289/.417/.706 and would hit three more home runs, but bat just .200 in 44 games with the Pirates over the rest of the season. The right-handed hitter launched 19 home runs in 2023 and 21 in ’24 between Miami and Pittsburgh.

Following the 2024 season De La Cruz signed with Atlanta as a free agent and played both for Triple-A Gwinnett and Atlanta, but struggled offensively and was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees. The 28-year-old did not reach the majors with New York last season, but did have an offensive resurgence with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he hit 15-46-.271/.340/.456/.796 in 91 games at Triple-A. De La Cruz has played all three outfield positions and has recorded 24 outfield assists in 465 games defensively.

The Astros initially signed De La Cruz as an amateur free agent and later dealt him to Miami in July of 2021.

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