LA doesn’t like veteran relievers after Tommy John surgery, but there’s a catch
The Los Angeles Dodgers decided not to tender a contract to right-hander Evan Phillips on Friday, making the 31-year-old an official free agent. The decision comes after Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery in early June 2025, ending a season in which he appeared in just seven games.
Claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, Phillips has become an important part of Los Angeles’ bullpen. Over five seasons with the Dodgers, he compiled a 2.22 ERA in 201 appearances, striking out 221 batters in 195 innings while saving 45 games.
He served as the team’s closer in 2023 and 2024, going 42 of 49 save opportunities, and posted a career-best 1.14 ERA in 2022 in 64 appearances. Despite a 3.62 ERA in 2024, Phillips made a significant impact in Los Angeles’ postseason run, pitching 6⅔ scoreless innings before missing the World Series with a shoulder injury.
Phillips began the 2025 season recovering from that injury. After returning on April 19, he went just seven scoreless games before forearm discomfort forced him onto the injured list. A subsequent diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament led to his Tommy John procedure on June 3, with a projected recovery time of 12 to 18 months.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman indicated that while the team cannot justify a projected $6.1 million arbitration salary for the uncertain 2026 season. they remain interested in bringing Phillips back to a new contract, potentially after the All-Star break (h/t Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times).
In addition to Phillips, 27-year-old pitcher Nick Frasso, who is recovering from shoulder and hip surgery, was in Los Angeles. Frasso struggled with consistency in Triple-A during 2025, pitching 77 innings in 43 games (seven starts), striking out 68 while issuing 42 walks, finishing with a 5.49 ERA.
The Dodgers’ 40-man roster now stands at 37 players, opening the door to strategic moves as the team plans for the 2026 season.
2025-11-22 04:55:00
