Phillies Confident in Bryan De La Cruz After Trade Deadline
The Philadelphia Phillies have opted not to acquire a new right-handed hitter following the trade deadline, instead placing their trust in Bryan De La Cruz. The team recently traded reliever Seth Johnson to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Colby Thomas, who will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, leaving the major league roster without a new right-handed bat.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated that the team is satisfied with De La Cruz's performance, noting his recent emergence as a viable option. De La Cruz, a 29-year-old outfielder, has shown promise since his call-up on July 21, batting .429 with a 1.243 OPS in nine games for the Phillies.
De La Cruz, who signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies before the season, has a career OPS of .704 and has been productive at the plate after a slow start in the minors. The Phillies plan to utilize him in a platoon role alongside Brandon Marsh in left field, as they continue to seek a reliable partner for Marsh.
