The 2022 MLB Winter Meetings were busy for the Philadelphia Phillies front office. The organization inked Trea Turner to a huge $300 million deal to begin the frenzy. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski also took fliers on two pitchers, Taijuan Walker and Matt Strahm.

Walker has had an up-and-down (mostly down) tenure with the Phillies. Strahm, on the other hand, has been quite the addition to the club’s pitching staff since arriving to start the 2023 campaign.

In an offseason that was overshadowed by the Turner mega-deal, Strahm’s two-year, $15 million signing did not generate the same excitement from the fan base at the time, however, looking back, his performance has proven that this was a valuable signing.

He may not be the biggest name the Phillies have signed at the Winter Meetings, but his contributions certainly put him in the conversation for the most underrated addition by Dombrowski and company.

Matt Strahm has been a key piece of Phillies’ pitching staff since signing during 2022 Winter Meetings

When Strahm signed with the Phillies, he was viewed as some left-handed help out of the bullpen. However, he began the 2023 season as a member of the starting rotation. During that time, he looked like he could be a legitimate starter.

Through 10 starts, Strahm tossed 33 1/3 posting a 4.05 ERA and 11.9 SO/9.

The issue was that his career high in innings pitched was 114 2/3 when the left-hander made 16 starts with the San Diego Padres. The start to his Phillies tenure demonstrated how versatile the North Dakota native really was.

The 34-year-old pitcher has not started a game for the Phillies since 2023, however, he has proven to be a valuable and effective left-handed arm out of the bullpen.

As a member of the Phillies, Strahm has thrown 212 2/3 innings and has appeared in 188 games, mostly as a reliever. Over that span, he has boasted a 2.71 ERA and has held opposing to hitters to just a .198 batting average.

He as also recorded a ton of strikeouts and has limited baserunners. Following last season, Strahm has struck out 30.5 percent of the hitters he’s faced while posting a 0.95 WHIP.

The left-hander will be back with the Phillies in 2026 for his fourth season as his $7.5 million option vested after he pitched more than 60 innings this year.

Strahm will join lefties Tanner Banks and José Alvarado as the southpaws in the club’s bullpen next season. The trio should make for a solid battery against left-handed hitters and help anchor the relief corps as the Phillies look to make another run at a championship in 2026.