Philadelphia Phillies Sign Former All-Star Outfielder
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired a former All-Star on Friday night, signing David Dahl to a minor-league contract. Dahl's contract is still pending a physical, per MLB insider Joel Sherman.
Dahl, 29, played for the San Diego Padres last year. He didn't see much action, only getting into four games and earning just nine plate appearances. His lone hit was a home run.
Dahl didn't appear in the big leagues in 2022 either, so it's been a while since he was an impact player.
Dahl was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and debuted with the Colorado Rockies in 2016. He showed promise early on, slashing .297/.346/.521 over his first three seasons with the Rockies and making the NL All-Star team in 2019.
Phillies fans may remember Dahl's power binge against them late in the 2018 season. Dahl torched Philadelphia during a four-game series at Coors Field in late September, homering in all four games and driving in 11 runs.
Unfortunately for Dahl, his career has gone off the rails over the last few years. Like many players, he struggled during the shortened 2020 season (.470 OPS) and never got his groove back. The Phillies are already his sixth organization since leaving Colorado after the 2020 season.
Dahl's early success was also largely a byproduct of Coors Field, where he's a career .318/.361/.556 hitter.
Dahl turns 30 in April, so he's running out of time to get his career back on track. He could be a decent depth option for Philadelphia, but fans shouldn't expect a return to form based on how his last few seasons have gone.