Aug 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj
The Phillies are betting that the recently non-tendered Adolis García will bounce back in 2026.
According to Francys Romero, the Phillies are signing García to a one-year/$10 million deal, which will be finalized assuming he successfully completes his physical. Matt Gelb of The Athletic also confirmed the report.
BREAKING: Cuban OF Adolis García and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a one-year, $10 million contract, pending a physical, per sources.
Adolis will look to contribute on a contending team and return to his 2023 offensive production, when he was named ALCS MVP.
García was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers — the team he was instrumental in helping to win the World Series in 2023 — after he hit .225 with just a .675 OPS over the past two seasons. García was never a high on-base guy, although he delivered strong power production between 2021 and 2023, swatting 97 home runs and posting a .777 OPS. The Phillies would definitely sign up for anything resembling that type of production in right field in 2026.
How realistic is it that García, who will turn 33 in March, rebounds? It's fair to be skeptical of that. However, the Phillies have a ton of trust in hitting coach Kevin Long, even if he has become a lightning rod for certain segments of the fanbase. Additionally, the Rangers fired offensive coordinator — yes, that really was his title — Donnie Ecker in early May because they weren't hitting as expected. That didn't do the trick, as García, Jake Burger, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung, Joc Pederson and Marcus Semien all underperformed. Whatever you think about Long, there were a lot of established hitters in Texas last year that didn't perform up to expectations. Maybe a change of scenery will help García.
The other great part about García is that while he had an uncharacteristically bad season in the field in 2024, the former Gold Glove Award winner bounced back to post 16 defensive runs saved and one out above average in right field in 2025. It's hard to overstate how much of a defensive upgrade García will be in right field considering that Nick Castellanos posted minus-11 defensive runs saved and minus-12 outs above average this past season.
As for what García means for the domino effect of the outfield in Philadelphia, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been pretty clear that Max Kepler — who played on a one-year/$10 million deal in 2025 — won't be back. Whether Castellanos is traded or released, he's almost certainly played his last game in red pinstripes. And with this signing, it would seem pretty unlikely that the Phillies will wind up bringing back Harrison Bader on a multi-year deal, although who knows what twists and turns are still to come in his market.
Where things stand right now, García would seem to be the everyday right fielder, Justin Crawford would slot in as the center fielder and Brandon Marsh could platoon with Otto Kemp in left field. Weston Wilson, Johan Rojas and Gabriel Rincones Jr. are also in the outfield mix.
