The Philadelphia Phillies have been active on the transaction front over the past few days. Their most recent move was trading LHP Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals for RHP Jonathan Bowlan.
Strahm had a solid season with the Phillies last season, registering a 2.74 ERA in 66 regular-season games. However, there is a broader plan for Philadelphia. Shortly after the move, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski spoke to the media and explained why the team felt now was the time to move on from Strahm.
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“He’s been a good part of our ball club. We’re in a spot, though, with the three left-handers; we didn’t necessarily think we needed all three. He’s a year away from free agency. We were able to get a guy that we liked that has six years of service that we think can help us right away,” explained Dambrowski.
“So, you have to give, to get, and we still feel good with our left-handers in the bullpen, and we think we’d have an Alvarado back all year long. We’re looking for him to bounce back and be the Alvarado that has really shined in the past.”
Jun 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Matt Strahm (25) reacts with starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) after the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Of course, the other left-handers in the bullpen Dombrowksi is referring to are Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks, both of whom are more than reliable options with Strahm no longer in the pitcher’s role.
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The Phillies had clearly already made up their mind that they didn’t plan on re-signing Strahm when he hit free agency next offseason, which is fine. They capitalized on his trade value, bringing in a young, controllable arm with promising metrics.
Bowlan pitched in 3.86 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 34 games, including one start, for the Royals during the 2025 regular season. Additionally, he has less than a year of service time, keeping the 29-year-old under team control through the 2032 season.
Strahm has pitched in plenty of big moments for the Phillies over the last few seasons and established himself as one of the more underrated relievers in the game. However, Philadelphia made a move they believe will help them for the 2026 season and beyond.