Phillies free up some payroll by trading Matt Strahm to the Royals

Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Dec 19, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PHILADELPHIA — Matt Strahm ranked among the most effective lefty relievers in baseball over the last three seasons.

Yet, to the Phillies, he was expendable.

In a move that saved nearly $7 million to help address other needs (re-signing J.T. Realmuto?) — and may have been spurred by an increasingly strained relationship between the team and pitcher — the Phillies traded Strahm to the Royals on Friday for right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan.

“Matt’s done a nice, solid job for us,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “He’s been a good part of our ballclub. We’re in a spot though, with three left-handers, we didn’t necessarily think we needed all three.”

Indeed, with José Alvarado’s return from an 80-game drug suspension and the emergence this year of late-blooming Tanner Banks, the Phillies have two late-inning lefties to pair with star closer Jhoan Duran, newly signed Brad Keller, and Orion Kerkering from the right side.

(They also traded for sidearming lefty Kyle Backhus from the Diamondbacks on Friday for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. Backhus has minor league options and represents bullpen depth.)

So, although Strahm had a 2.71 ERA in 188 appearances since 2023, including a 2.74 mark in 66 games this year, the Phillies were comfortable with reapportioning $7.5 million salary for 2026, especially after signing Keller this week to a two-year, $22 million deal. Bowlan, 29, will make slightly more than the $780,000 major league minimum.

The Phillies began getting calls on all three lefty relievers early in the offseason, according to a major league source. They were most willing to listen on Strahm.

Because while Strahm was durable and versatile (10 starts in 2023), he faltered in each of the last two postseasons. He allowed four runs in two innings over three games against the Mets in the 2024 divisional round, then allowed Teoscar Hernández’s go-ahead three-run homer in Game 1 this year against the Dodgers.

Strahm was a veteran leader in the bullpen. But there were hints that the outspoken 34-year-old might have begun to overstep. For example, after Kerkering’s season-ending errant throw in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, Strahm told reporters that he wished he pushed the Phillies to put their pitchers through more rigorous fielding practice.

Dombrowski pushed back on that idea in his end-of-season news conference.

“We did plenty,” Dombrowski said. “Actually, as it turns out, we did do [pitcher fielding practice] in the postseason. He didn’t do them. But we did them.”

After the trade, Dombrowski denied any issues with Strahm.

“I can’t speak for others in our situation, but if Matt would have come back with us, we’d have felt very comfortable,” he said. “I’ve always had a good relationship with him. I loved talking to his wife and his daughter. That’s from my perspective.”

Bowlan has a spot in the season-opening bullpen, alongside Duran, Keller, Alvarado, Kerkering, and Banks. He posted a 3.86 ERA in 34 appearances for the Royals and held right-handed hitters to a .182 average.

“When we look at him, not a real well-known guy, but somebody that we think can contribute to us on a strong basis from the right-hand side,” Dombrowski said. “And of course, he doesn’t have to pitch the eighth or ninth for us. We can kind of gradually work him into different situations.”

The Phillies could look at Rule 5 selection Zach McCambley and a group of optionable relievers — Backhus, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar and newcomer Yoniel Curet — to cycle through the last two spots in the bullpen. With two vacancies on the 40-man roster, they continue to seek depth for the bullpen and starting rotation.

But the No. 1 priority remains bringing back Realmuto. MLB.com reported that the Phillies have an offer on the table. But it’s possible Realmuto is trying to get a guaranteed third year.

“We would love to re-sign him,” Dombrowski said. “But [the situation] really hasn’t changed very much.”

In jettisoning Strahm, the Phillies might have freed up a few extra dollars. They still have approximately $299 million in 2026 payroll commitments, as calculated for the luxury tax. They’re expected to stay within range of the 2025 payroll, which came in at roughly $312 million, over the fourth (and highest) tax threshold.

Extra bases

Dombrowski said the Phillies “continue to work through some details” in hiring Don Mattingly to be the bench coach. Mattingly is the leading candidate for the job, which opened after the postseason when Mike Calitri moved into a newly created role of major league field coordinator. … The Phillies intend to replace assistant general manager Ani Kilambi, hired away this week as GM of the Washington Nationals. Kilambi led the data and analytics arm of Dombrowski’s front office.