Phillies break camp in a week with a few roster spots still up for grabs

The Phillies break camp in about a week and the roster picture is mostly clear. Most of the spots are locked. There are a few decisions left to make and they need to be made quickly.

The most pressing one landed Thursday morning when utility man Dylan Moore triggered the opt-out clause in his contract. The Phillies now have 48 hours to add him to the 40-man roster or release him and let him walk as a free agent. They currently have 39 players on the 40-man so the roster spot exists.

The smart money is on them adding him.

Dylan Moore Triggers Opt-Out Clause

Veteran INFer/OFer Dylan Moore is triggering his opt-out clause, league sources said. The Phillies will have 48 hours to add him to the 40-man roster. Otherwise, he is set to be a free agent on Saturday. Clubs with injury concerns like Astros, Mets, Orioles could show interest.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) March 19, 2026

Dylan Moore is hitting just .226 this spring with one extra base hit in 31 at-bats. The bat is not the selling point. The selling point is that he can play literally everywhere on the field and gives the bench real versatility. That is valuable on a team that needs its bench to be functional rather than flashy.

The complication is Bryan De La Cruz, who has been the best hitter in camp and has made it nearly impossible to send him down without feeling like you are leaving something real on the table. De La Cruz is slashing .324 with a homer, a double, and 12 hits in 37 at-bats and he just won Dominican Winter League MVP. He is limited to corner outfield but he can flat out hit.

Bryan De La Cruz has done enough to make Phillies Opening Day Roster

Bryan De La Cruz to center off of Dylan Cease💣 #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/JspYIhzBBH

— SleeperPhillies (@SleeperPhillies) February 28, 2026

The likely solution is to add Moore to the 40-man, option De La Cruz to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and revisit the situation in July when De La Cruz’s own opt-out clause kicks in. That keeps both players in the organization and gives the Phillies options.

It is not a perfect outcome for De La Cruz but it is the move that makes the most sense for the team right now.

On the bullpen front, things are getting cleaner.

Prior to today’s game, the Phillies optioned RHP Seth Johnson to Lehigh Valley (AAA). Additionally, the following players were reassigned to minor league camp: LHP Tucker Davidson, C Paul McIntosh, C René Pinto and RHP Bryse Wilson.

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 19, 2026

Seth Johnson was optioned to Lehigh Valley on Thursday after walking seven batters in 9.2 innings this spring despite a 1.86 ERA.

Tucker Davidson, Paul McIntosh, René Pinto, and Bryse Wilson were all reassigned to minor league camp. Johnson was on the outside of the bullpen picture anyway with Kyle Backhus having essentially clinched the final lefty spot with a dominant spring.

The remaining bullpen question is what happens with Orion Kerkering. If he is ready for Opening Day then the last spot is spoken for.

If he is not, then Zach Pop and Chase Shugart are the leading candidates to fill in, and both could conceivably make the team in that scenario. Both are already on the 40-man roster which gives them a structural advantage over the alternatives.

One week left. The decisions are getting made. Opening Day is close.

Read More: Andrew Painter dominated the Braves in his final Spring start and the timing could not be better >>

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