The Phillies got real value from two stopgap outfielders in 2026, but that doesn’t mean both Bryan De La Cruz and Derek Hill should be back in the same role next season.
Philadelphia’s outfield was a mess for much of the year. Brandon Marsh faded badly after his All-Star first half, Justin Crawford was only decent in his rookie season, and right field was a wasteland until Bryce Harper stepped in from first base to help patch it together. In the middle of all that, Hill and De La Cruz became useful answers when the Phillies needed them most.
Hill arrived in June in a minor trade with the Chicago White Sox after Adolis García’s season-ending injury. De La Cruz came in on a minor-league deal last November, then forced his way onto the big-league roster in July by using an opt-out clause. Both made their presence felt quickly.
Hill played 67 games for the Phillies and hit .261/.296/.487, adding clutch hits and strong defense in center field that looked Gold Glove-caliber. De La Cruz was productive too, posting a .280/.349/.413 line in 34 games while splitting time between right and left field. Hill helped stabilize center alongside Crawford, and De La Cruz gave the club another option as Marsh’s season unraveled.
Still, the Phillies would be asking for trouble if they penciled in both players for 2027. Hill is a career .232/.281/.372 hitter with 52 extra-base hits in 841 plate appearances, and he’s heading into his age-30 season.
De La Cruz brings a longer track record, but his career line sits at .251/.295/.402 over 1,872 plate appearances. Neither profile screams certainty.
There’s also the roster math. Both players are out of minor-league options, which means the Phillies would have to keep them on the major-league roster all season or risk losing them on waivers. That matters because Crawford is likely to remain the everyday center fielder unless he’s moved in a trade, Marsh could be available as he enters his final season before free agency, and the front office is also expected to add at least one outside outfielder.
That leaves the Phillies staring at a crowded picture. If Crawford stays, Marsh or his replacement stays, and a free agent arrives, then keeping both Hill and De La Cruz would lock up five roster spots with outfield-only players. With most teams carrying four bench players, that would leave room for just a backup catcher and one infielder.
For a club that needs flexibility, that’s too steep a price. Hill and De La Cruz both helped save the Phillies from a rough situation in 2026, but the front office should pick one and move forward with him as the fourth outfielder. The other one, as useful as he was, probably won’t fit.
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