\n\tTrading Jonathan Bowlan<\/a> to Philadelphia for Matt Strahm<\/a> seemed a reasonable thing to do when the Kansas City Royals pulled the trigger on just that deal back in December. Bowlan had been serviceable, but not consistently remarkable, in parts of three seasons for the Royals, while Strahm had become an accomplished big league reliever after KC, with whom he broke into the majors in 2016, dealt him away to the Padres during the 2017 campaign.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tA little more than six months after the Bowlan deal and almost three months into the Royals\u2019 all-but-lost 2026 season (Monday\u2019s loss to Washington dropped them 15 games below .500), Bowlan has overcome an early April groin strain and is 2-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 20 games for the Phillies, while an ugly 5.40 ERA mars Strahm\u2019s 23-appearance, 3-1 record through Monday. It’s a homecoming with little to celebrate.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tBowlan is no longer Kansas City\u2019s concern, but Strahm most certainly is \u2014 without improvement, the veteran left-hander could drive the club crazy when the midsummer trade deadline nears. Here\u2019s why.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tKansas City\u2019s interest in bringing Strahm home was understandable. The Royals needed some fine-tuning after a disappointing 2025 season that left them just a few wins short of a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. The bullpen wasn\u2019t free of concerns as baseball\u2019s winter began, and Strahm seemed like someone who could provide immediate help.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tHe\u2019d been quite good for the Phillies after joining them as a free agent after the 2022 campaign, posting an excellent 2.71 ERA across three seasons and 188 appearances. His 0.955 WHIP, 4.94 SO\/BB ratio, 30.4 K%, 6.16 BB%, and 160 ERA+ were all good, and he won 17 games and saved 11.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tAnd he became an All-Star for the first time when he went 6-2 with a 1.87 ERA to help the Phils roll to the 2024 National League East Division title.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tBut this season, his 11th in the majors, hasn\u2019t been what Strahm and the Royals wanted when they gave up Bowlan to get him. Yes, he\u2019s won three times and lost only once, but he\u2019s surrendered 13 runs in 21 1\/3 innings.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tConcerning, too, is his performance this month \u2014 through Monday, he\u2019d given up home runs in each of his last four games and in five of his six June appearances. His ERA for the month was 10.13 (six earned runs in 5 1\/3 innings), and opponents were hitting .273 against him.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tHe blew a save by giving Jake Burger<\/a> a leadoff seventh-inning home run in KC\u2019s June 10 loss to Texas, and blew another Saturday night when, after hitting leadoff man Isaac Paredes<\/a> in the eighth, he yielded a game-tying homer to Jose Altuve<\/a>. The Royals lost 8-7.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tStrahm also had a 5.00 ERA in April. He improved to 3.18 in May, but it was a small sample size month \u2014 knee inflammation forced him to the Injured List for 15 days and limited him to just six appearances.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\tWhy Did the Royals Go After Matt Strahm?<\/span>
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