Braves announce outfielder Brian de la Cruz Has signed a non-guaranteed contract with the team for the 2025 season. De La Cruz’s deal is specifically a split contract, not a minor league deal. This contract is an early birthday gift for De La Cruz, who turns 28 tomorrow.
De La Cruz is no stranger to the NL East, breaking into the majors with the Marlins in 2021 and spending parts of the next four seasons in the Miami outfield. A part-time role essentially became a day job by the end of the 2022 season, with De La Cruz hitting .263/.311/.420 with 37 home runs in 1,200 games for the Fish from 2021-23. .
Unfortunately, production is trending downward, from a 111 wRC+ in 219 PA in De La Cruz’s rookie season to 99 in 2022, then 90 in 2023, and down to a 77 wRC+ in 2024. Hit 21 home runs this season but posted a .233/.271/.384 slash line in just 622 combined PA with the Marlins and Pirates. Most of the struggles came after Pittsburgh acquired De La Cruz at the trade deadline, as De La Cruz hit just .200/.220/.294 in 168 PA with his new team.
With the salary drop so steep, the Buccaneers opted not to tender De La Cruz rather than pay him his projected $4MM salary in the first of three arbitration-eligible seasons. Considering the three years of control and the two prospects the Bucs gave up on De La Cruz at the deadline, it would be understandable if the Buccaneers retained De La Cruz to take another look, but the $4MM price tag and his The sub-replacement level makes the no-tender a reasonable decision.
De La Cruz has essentially been a power-only player throughout his career, and he’s always had solid hard-contact numbers. However, contact has been difficult as De La Cruz has a career strikeout rate of 25% and he doesn’t walk often. De La Cruz has experience at all three outfield positions and has a good throwing arm but is considered a middling defender at best.
The non-guaranteed nature of the contract means the Braves have nothing to lose by seeing how De La Cruz performs in spring training. If he can get himself on track at the plate and turn his power into solid production more consistently, the Braves will suddenly have a controllable outfielder heading into the 2027 season. De La Cruz has two minor league option years remaining, giving Atlanta more flexibility in its decision on whether to deploy him to the active roster.
It’s no secret that the Braves need outfield help. Ronald Acuna Jr.Recovery from ACL tear could last into May, Jared Kelenic His first season in Atlanta wasn’t particularly productive, and Jorge Soler (Although mostly DH) was traded to the Giants at the beginning of the offseason amid a huge salary slump. Once Acuna returns, De La Cruz could ideally form a platoon with Kelenic in left field and perhaps be viewed as a starter who can hold down the fort in right field in Acuna’s absence. That said, De La Cruz’s contract certainly won’t stop the Braves from continuing to look for clearer starting outfield options in the coming months.
