The Philadelphia Phillies have made a big move this offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract with free-agent outfielder Adolis García. While the club has yet to officially confirm the deal, multiple reports have surfaced confirming the signing.

García, who was set to enter his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, became a free agent after the Texas Rangers opted to non-tender him on November 21st. This decision came after García struggled at the plate, slashing .225/.279/.397 with a 96 OPS+ over the past two seasons.

But it wasn't too long ago that García was considered one of the top players in the game. In 2023, he helped lead the Rangers to a World Series victory with a postseason performance for the ages. In just 18 playoff games, García hit eight home runs, had a 1.108 OPS, and set a single-postseason record with 22 RBIs.

His standout performance earned him ALCS MVP honors, as he hit five home runs and drove in 15 runs against the Houston Astros. And in Game 1 of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, García hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to give the Rangers an early series lead.

This impressive showing came after a strong regular season where García earned his second All-Star selection and set career highs in multiple categories, including home runs (39), RBIs (107), OPS (.836), and WAR (4.7 per FanGraphs). He also received his first Gold Glove Award for his stellar defense.

García's success with the Rangers was the result of a remarkable journey that began in his native Cuba. Born in Ciego de Avila in 1993, García played professionally in Cuba's top league, the Cuban National Series, for five years. He even won the league's MVP award in 2015-16. He also spent some time playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants' Minor League affiliate.

After his time overseas, García was expected to return to Cuba, but he defected instead and established residency in the Dominican Republic. This allowed him to become an international free agent eligible to sign with a Major League team. He eventually signed a Minor League deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

However, García only appeared in 21 games with the Cardinals and was designated for assignment in December 2019 to make room for Korean lefty Kwang Hyun Kim on the 40-man roster. Just a few days later, García was traded to the Rangers for cash considerations.

Even with his move to Texas, García's career almost came to an abrupt end. After playing just three games for the Rangers during the shortened 2020 season, he was designated for assignment again in February 2021. But luckily, García cleared waivers and remained with the team, giving him the opportunity to prove himself and eventually become an impact player.

Now, with his new one-year deal with the Phillies, García will have the chance to continue his success and make an impact for his new team. Fans are excited to see what he can bring to the table and how he can help the Phillies in their pursuit of a World Series title. Stay tuned for more updates on García's journey as the 2026 season approaches.