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Phillies' Rob Thomson hints final roster spot set to go to $1.85 million Gold Glover
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- Phillies' Rob Thomson hints final roster spot set to go to $1.85 million Gold Glover
Phillies' Rob Thomson hints final roster spot set to go to $1.85 million Gold Glover originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Philadelphia Phillies are entering Spring Training with a few big questions to answer. While the status of Justin Crawford, the bullpen, and a back-end starter are all important questions, so too is the final position player's roster spot.
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With 13 spots open, all but one are set to be filled. A bench of Otto Kemp , Rafael Marchan , and Edmundo Sosa means one roster spot is left. And Phillies manager Rob Thomson's opinion hinted at the current favorite.
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic , Thomson is leaning towards giving the final MLB roster spot to a super-utility player. And a $1.85 million free agent signing looks to be the leading favorite based on his comments.
Phillies Rob Thomson hints at player most likely to earn final MLB roster spot
"For me, it's probably a utility guy," Thomson said. "A super-utility guy. Whether it's right-handed or left-handed, we'll have to see as we get closer to the end."
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This quote from Thomson hints at one player, which Gelb points out as former Seattle Mariners Gold Glove award winner and super-utility man Dylan Moore . As Gelb notes, "The Phillies like Moore."
The 33-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Phillies with an invite to Spring Training. If he makes the MLB roster, he will make $1.85 million.
He has experience in the outfield, at second base, and at shortstop. In 2024, he earned a Gold Glove award for a utility player while working at second base, shortstop, third base, the outfield, and even first base.
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While he's a great defender, his offense does leave a bit to be desired. He's coming off a 2025 season with the Mariners and Texas Rangers , where he hit .201 with a .642 OPS.
Moore's career OPS is a .693, with a 97 OPS+, which means he's slightly below league-average at the plate. But if he can be a league-average, or close to league-average, hitter, combined with his defense and utility, he'd be a valuable player.
The Phillies like Moore, and Thomson's ideal for the final bench spot fits Moore's skillset. He's a player Phillies fans should keep a very close eye on this Spring, as a solid spring at the plate could make him a near lock to earn the final MLB roster spot.
