Matt Strahm ranked among the most effective lefty relievers in baseball over the last three seasons.<\/p>\n
Yet, to the Phillies<\/a>, he was expendable.<\/p>\n In a move that saved nearly $7 million to help address other needs (re-signing J.T. Realmuto<\/a>?) \u2014 and may have been spurred by an increasingly strained relationship between the team and pitcher \u2014 the Phillies traded Strahm to the Royals on Friday for right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan.<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: The Phillies are sticking with a veteran core in 2026. But this time the kids have to play too.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u201cMatt\u2019s done a nice, solid job for us,\u201d president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski<\/a> said. \u201cHe\u2019s been a good part of our ballclub. We\u2019re in a spot though, with three left-handers, we didn\u2019t necessarily think we needed all three.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, with Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/a>\u2019s 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<\/a> from the right side.<\/p>\n (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.)<\/p>\n 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<\/a> to a two-year, $22 million deal. Bowlan, 29, will make slightly more than the $780,000 major league minimum.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: J.T. Realmuto will be 35, but he remains as valuable as ever to the Phillies<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n 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 Hern\u00e1ndez\u2019s go-ahead three-run homer in Game 1 this year against the Dodgers.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Dombrowski pushed back on that idea in his end-of-season news conference.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did plenty,\u201d Dombrowski said. \u201cActually, as it turns out, we did do [pitcher fielding practice] in the postseason. He didn\u2019t do them. But we did them.\u201d<\/p>\n After the trade, Dombrowski denied any issues with Strahm.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak for others in our situation, but if Matt would have come back with us, we\u2019d have felt very comfortable,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve always had a good relationship with him. I loved talking to his wife and his daughter. That\u2019s from my perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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,\u201d Dombrowski said. \u201cAnd of course, he doesn\u2019t have to pitch the eighth or ninth for us. We can kind of gradually work him into different situations.\u201d<\/p>\n The Phillies could look at Rule 5 selection Zach McCambley and a group of optionable relievers \u2014 Backhus, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar, and newcomer Yoniel Curet \u2014 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.<\/p>\n But the No. 1 priority remains bringing back Realmuto. MLB.com reported that the Phillies have an offer on the table. But it\u2019s possible Realmuto is trying to get a guaranteed third year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would love to re-sign him,\u201d Dombrowski said. \u201cBut [the situation] really hasn\u2019t changed very much.\u201d<\/p>\n