The Philadelphia Phillies have had an underwhelming offseason so far. They swung and missed on Bo Bichette and missed out on Kyle Tucker. At this point in the offseason, there aren’t as many impact players left on the market.
That leads to low-risk, high-reward signings like this one.
The Phillies have signed utilityman Dylan Moore to a minor league deal, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Sammon also reports that Moore can make up to $3.25 million with plate appearances and active roster bonuses. This is an interesting contract for a minor league deal. Usually, a minor league contract will not have the opportunity for as many incentives.
What Does Moore Bring to the Philadelphia Phillies?
Moore, entering his age-34 season, is on a prove-it deal with Philadelphia. The Texas Rangers drafted Moore in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB Draft from Central Florida.
He bounced around a few minor league rosters before settling with the Seattle Mariners, where he spent the first six-plus seasons of his career.
Making his major league debut in 2019, Moore has hit 63 home runs in 689 career games (1922 plate appearances).
The Phillies aren’t expecting Moore to be a superstar. What they are expecting, however, is for Moore to be a good role-player on the major league roster.
Moore is an above-average defender, being able to play every position but catcher. He won a Gold Glove award in 2024 as a utilityman.
A right-handed hitter, Moore has a .727 career OPS against left-handed pitchers, compared to a .668 OPS against right-handers.
Also, Moore possesses above-average speed (68th percentile in 2024), according to Baseball Savant. He has recorded 118 stolen bases in his career, including three 20+ stolen base seasons.
Moore has elite plate discipline, especially against left-handed pitching. In the last season where he was eligible for advanced stats, 2024, Moore was in the 99th percentile in chase rate and 94th percentile in walk rate.
Where Does Moore Fit on the Phillies?
With the incentives so high in Moore’s deal, there is a strong chance that he makes the opening day roster as a utilityman.
Being able to play all positions in the infield and outfield, but catcher is a great way to get yourself on a major league roster. Being able to play those positions with defensive authority is how you make yourself indispensable.
However, he isn’t the only utility player currently on the roster. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both have similar skillsets to Moore, but they generally play in the infield.
Moore’s best bet to make an impact on this Phillies team is to focus on the fourth outfielder battle. Free agent addition Adolis Garcia has right field locked down. After that, the other two positions are up for grabs.
Young prospect Justin Crawford is currently slated to play center field. But with not much experience, could Moore step in if needed? However, Johan Rojas, Pedro Leon and Bryan De La Cruz are able to play center if Crawford falters.
Brandon Marsh in left field will likely need a right-handed hitting platoon mate. Marsh has a career .581 OPS against left-handed pitching, making a platoon in left field necessary.
With Moore being able to hit lefties at an average to above-average rate, the outfield may be the best place for Moore to get consistent playing time in Philadelphia, and make this deal worth it for the Phillies.
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