KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Another familiar reliever is back in the Kansas City Royals system following general manager J.J. Picollo’s most recent move.
Friday morning, the Royals announced a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies that brings left-handed reliever Matt Strahm back to Kansas City.
The trade sends Jonathan Bowlan to Philadelphia in exchange and the deal keeps the Royals’ Major League Reserve List at 40.
It comes after Kansas City ended last week by signing Jose Cuas to a minor league deal after several years away from the Royals organization.
The 34-year-old big-leaguer with 10 years of MLB experience was drafted by the Royals in 2012 out of Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas.
In returning to Kansas City, he will become the 37th player in franchise history to appear with the Royals, leave the organization and later return.
Strahm, a West Fargo, North Dakota, native, made his Major League debut with the Royals on July 31, 2016, and pitched with Kansas City during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in July 2017 and played there for four seasons.
In 2022, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox and a year later signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he’s had some of his most successful seasons in MLB.
Last year with Philadelphia, he tied a career high with 66 appearances and had a 2.74 earned run average and a career-best 22 holds, which was fifth-best among National League left-handers.
In 2024, Strahm’s 1.87 ERA helped him become a National League All-Star for the first time in his career.
By rejoining the Royals, Strahm provides a left-handed arm in the bullpen that is needed after Kansas City traded Angel Zerpa to the Milwaukee Brewers last week.
Bowlan, 29, pitched in parts of the last three seasons with the Royals. In 2025, he pitched in a career-best 34 games with Kansas City.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.