March 21: Moore and the Phillies are in agreement on a major-league deal, reports Sammon. He is expected to be on the Opening Day roster. As Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, Philadelphia has a full 40-man after the additions of Moore and Justin Crawford.
March 19: Veteran infielder/outfielder Dylan Moore has triggered the uniform opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Phillies, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. Philadelphia now has 48 hours to add him to the 40-man roster. If he’s not added to the roster, he’ll become a free agent who can sign with any other club.
The 33-year-old Moore has logged 689 big league games, all but 18 coming with the Mariners. He’s a right-handed hitter with a lifetime .206/.310/.383 batting line, 63 homers and 118 stolen bases in 1922 plate appearances. He hits for low averages against lefties and righties alike, but Moore has above-average pop against opponents of either handedness and walks at better than a 12% clip against lefties. His .216/.327/.400 slash against lefties in his career is about 10% better than average overall, by measure of wRC+.
Moore hasn’t fared all that well this spring, tallying 37 plate appearances and batting .226/.324/.258 with a double and a pair of steals. Be that as it may, he’s a plus runner with solid pop who can play virtually anywhere on the diamond — all of which could appeal to the Phillies or another club. Moore has played every position on the diamond other than catcher, including 1308 innings at second base, 900 at shortstop, 885 in left field, 605 in right field, 431 at third base, 155 at first base and 105 in center field. He’s drawn outstanding defensive grades at second base (14 Defensive Runs Saved, 8 Outs Above Average) and left field (14 DRS, 11 OAA) in particular.
The Phillies have one bench spot up for grabs. Either Rafael Marchán or Garrett Stubbs will be the backup catcher behind J.T. Realmuto, filling one spot. (Both are out of minor league options.) Edmundo Sosa has a utility job locked down, and righty-swinging Otto Kemp is likely to make the club as a platoon option for left fielder Brandon Marsh. With outfielder Johan Rojas facing an 80-game PED suspension, Moore could be a backup center field option behind rookie Justin Crawford while providing some versatile depth for just about every other starter in the lineup. His primary competition is fellow outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, who offers far less defensive flexibility and has consistently graded out as a poor corner outfield defender.
Given the lack of competition, there’s a good case for the Phils to select Moore’s contract rather than let him become a free agent on Saturday. Of course, Philadelphia could also find some other candidates for that final bench job as other veterans with this same uniform out clause in their minor league contracts become available. MLBTR recently profiled 33 players (Moore included) with opt-out opportunities in their minor league contracts prior to Opening Day.
Bye bye….Not impressed this spring. He has hit some balls hard and plays all over but I do not see the urgency of adding him when Sosa is already on the roster.
Moore offers a world of flexibility accompanied by high quality defense. And if not Moore, then who for that last spot. Moore has had some pretty good years against lefties, meaning he could spell both Marsh and Stott, and occasionally Crawford as well. I endorse Moore for that final roster spot, in the absence of better options.
He’s literally the same player as he’s been all his career. A streaky short-side platoon bat with solid defense at almost every position and some speed. Plenty of places he could find a role, even with his mediocre batting average
I watched him a lot in Seattle. Totally agree and I’ll add that he is a playmaker. Great player overall, but his skills are just spread a little too thin.
Hopefully they add him. I don’t want to see Stubbs take a roster spot.
OMG …..this
I’d rather see them keep BDLC than Dudley Moore anyway. Bench of Marchan, Kemp, Sosa and BDLC should be okay.
In no way shape or form should Stubbs make this team.
He’s been seemingly fine this spring, but not enough to put positional flexibility above a right handed OF bat. I would keep De La Cruz until something better falls off a roster or becomes available in trade.
De La Cruz is a must add to the roster. I actually think he could work his way into more playing time than Marsh.
Hmmm… Phillies and Braves getting popped for PED’s more than any other team. Makes you wonder…
Moore sucks. If they can’t do better then they aren’t trying.
Who are You? Don’t talk like that about other people. Have you played in the show? Did you get paid to play baseball in the major leagues? Did you win a Gold Glove like Dylan Moore has?
Pirates?
This is possibly the worst outfield in MLB.
I’m no genius but I do believe the 26th man on the roster needs to be able to hit. Needs to be able to come up in the bottom of the ninth and give you a chance to tie the game or walk it off. They have plenty of defense and plenty of flexibility. Give me the guy that can hit.
Stupid stupid stupid. The idiocy of DD continues
Don’t be shocked if Moore is in the Opening Day Lineup at 3B or LF
De La Cruz has a far better spring and is a natural outfielder. The Phillies don’t have a natural 4th outfielder on the roster. Kemp is an infielder who can play the outfielder. Phillies already have Sosa as a super utility guy. Moore is redundant
Terrible decision. Moore will be cut from the roster by mid May. Just another in long line of terrible bench player adds.
Might be the end for Stubbs
Stubbs has a split contract. He is going to aaa
De la Cruz had such a good spring and now he’s done. I know Rob Thompson likes these light hitting but defensive versatile players, but they need somebody on the bench who can flat out hit. They have nobody. Just a horrible bench.
Okay 4th bench player honestly. Can sub him in almost anywhere and get good defense. He’s at least opposite-handed from Crawford if they feel like giving him some breaks vs. LHP.
But Moore isn’t a natural outfielder. The Phillies only have 3 natural outfielders on the roster & Marsh has been battling a wrist injury during the spring. Sosa is already in place as the super utility guy & Kemp can also play multiple positions. Moore is redundant. De La Cruz makes far more sense from a positional standpoint
Ugh another low avg power guy. Dom has his type.
This guy had a .267 on base percentage last year across 243 plate appearances. He should have been a candidate for a KBO or Mexican League contract
Just shows the power of the super ute. The big problem is that they already have that covered between Kemp and Sosa.