David Dahl opts for free agency

David Dahl Clears Waivers, Elects Free AgencyDavid Dahl Clears Waivers, Elects Free Agency The Philadelphia Phillies have announced that outfielder David Dahl has cleared waivers and elected free agency. Dahl was designated for assignment earlier this week. Dahl, 30, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. After spending much of 2020-23 on the sidelines, he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies over the winter. After a strong start in Triple-A, he was called up to the majors in May. However, Dahl struggled at the major league level, hitting just .154/.196/.231 in 56 plate appearances. He was removed from the Phillies’ roster when Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper returned from injuries. No team claimed Dahl off waivers, suggesting that he will likely have to settle for another minor league deal. Some teams may be intrigued by his record and strong start in Triple-A this year. Dahl has been on the major league roster for five years but will not reach the six-year mark. If he can find a team to sign with, he could be retained through arbitration for the 2025 season.

The Phillies announced that the outfielder David Dahl has cleared waivers and elected free agency. He was designated for assignment earlier this week. Players with a previous career outright or three years of service time can decline an outright assignment in favor of free agency, with Dahl qualifying on both counts.

Dahl, 30, was able to produce a feel-good comeback story a few weeks ago, but it eventually ran out of steam. The veteran spent much of 2020-23 injured, but looked great after signing a minor league deal with the Phils over the winter. He played in 43 Triple-A games and hit 12 home runs in that span, while also drawing walks at an 11.4% clip. He slashed .340/.416/.660 in his 166 plate appearances as an IronPig.

That earned him a call-up to the majors, as the Phillies Brandon Marsh on the injured list. It looked for a while as if Dahl might be able to keep the good times going, with two home runs in his first three games with the Phils. But then he hit a wall with a .154/.196/.231 line in his next 56 plate appearances, and was bumped off the list when Kyle Schwarber And Bryce Harper returned from IL assignments.

Dahl will now look for his next opportunity elsewhere, though the fact that every club passed on the chance to sign him off waivers suggests he’ll likely have to settle for another minor league deal. Some teams may be intrigued by his blistering start in Triple-A this year, as well as his previous record. He hit .297/.346/.521 in 240 games with the Rockies from 2016-19, but as noted, he’s been hampered by injuries since then.

He has suffered a ruptured spleen that required complete removal of the organ, a stress fracture in his rib cage, a broken foot, a high ankle sprain, a shoulder injury, multiple back injuries and a quadriceps injury. He has hit .200/.237/.318 in his 390 major league appearances since late 2019, splitting time with the Rangers, Padres and Phillies.

Dahl has been on the job for five years this year, but won’t reach the six-year mark. If he hits somewhere and gets back on a roster, he could be retained through arbitration for 2025. With the transfer deadline less than three weeks away, an upcoming roster move could give him a nice opportunity somewhere.