The Philadelphia Phillies have made a savvy move to shore up their outfield depth, signing 27-year-old Dylan Carlson to a minor league contract. The former St. Louis Cardinal, who once finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting, will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury.

This season, the Phillies' outfield has been painfully thin. With reliable options you could count on one hand, the team needed reinforcements. Carlson, who spent part of this season in the Chicago Cubs system, appeared in just three games for the big league club before being released on May 4. In 10 games with Triple-A Iowa, he struggled at the plate, batting .175 with a .600 OPS.

But don't let those numbers fool you. Carlson's best season came in 2021 with the Cardinals, when he hit .266 with a .780 OPS and looked like a future star. At 27, he still has time to rediscover that form. His ability to play all three outfield spots—and to switch-hit—gives the Phillies valuable flexibility if they decide to add him to the 40-man roster.

Currently, the Phillies' outfield features Brandon Marsh (.353) in left, rookie Justin Crawford (.276) in center, and Adolis Garcia (.240) in right. The depth behind them is shaky at best. Felix Reyes, who has logged time in both corner outfield spots, is not a natural outfielder and has struggled mightily at the plate, batting just .139 with a .389 OPS in 11 games.

On the 40-man roster, the Phillies have infielder/outfielder Otto Kemp and Steward Berroa as options. Kemp started the season with the big league club but was sent down to Lehigh Valley after limited playing time.

Carlson's signing is a low-risk, high-reward move for a team that needs outfield help. If he can tap into the potential that made him a top prospect just a few years ago, he could be a valuable addition down the stretch. For now, he's another option in a system that desperately needed one.