Cave was among three players competing for two outfield spots, with Cristian Pache, a talented 25-year-old without options, and Johan Rojas, known for his elite defense and speed on the bases but struggling at the plate, also in the mix.
Rojas, 23, bypassed triple-A last summer as an emergency replacement for Pache, surprising the club with a .302 batting average in 59 major-league games. However, his postseason and spring training performances have been lackluster.
Cave's exit leaves the Phillies without a dedicated left-handed bat off the bench. The 31-year-old hit .212 with five homers and eight doubles in 184 at-bats last season and was batting .333 with three doubles this spring.
Despite his strong performance, manager Rob Thomson deemed Cave expendable due to the superior defense offered by Rojas and Pache.
Cave was also out of options.
In another roster move, the team extended reliever Matt Strahm's contract through 2025 for $7.5 million, with a $7.5 million club option for 2026 contingent on him pitching 60 innings in 2025.
Strahm, 32, had a standout season with the Phillies last year, posting a 4.05 ERA in 10 starts and a 2.82 ERA in 46 relief appearances. He also excelled in the postseason, pitching seven scoreless innings across seven games.
Walker Update
Taijuan Walker will begin the season on the 15-day injured list due to discomfort in his right shoulder.
Walker, who has struggled this spring with a 15.43 ERA over two outings, was diagnosed with an impingement.
He will rest and rehab the injury with hopes of returning to the team in the near future, although an early April return seems unlikely given his limited workload and ongoing recovery process.
Spencer Turnbull will take his slot in the starting rotation.
