Jul 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Matt Strahm (25) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
The rumors of the Phillies moving on from lefty reliever Matt Strahm have been building for a month.
The news finally broke on Friday.
According to multiple reports, but first posted by Robert Murray of FanSided, the Phillies are sending Strahm to Kansas City and in exchange will receive right handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan.
The Kansas City Royals are acquiring reliever Matt Strahm in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Strahm, 34, is entering the final year of his contract - a team option that vested when he reached an innings pitched plateau in September, worth $7.5 million.
After the team signed righty set up man Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million contract this week, it was a wonder where some of that money was coming from with a potential re-signing of catcher J.T. Realmuto out there and the Phillies pushing close to their team salary last year of $313 million.
Exit stage left, Strahm's money.
A savvy signing by Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski back in December 2022, Strahm was an integral part of the Phillies bullpen the past three seasons, making the All-Star team in 2024.
But his velocity dipped in 2025 and although he was still pretty effective in the regular season, he struggled in the postseason, especially the last two years against the Mets and Dodgers.
His missed location on a pitch to Teoscar Hernandez resulted in a go-ahead, three-run home run in Game 1 of the NLDS that swung the game in the Dodgers favor, and the Phillies never recovered.
Multiple reports suggested Strahm clashed with coaches and executives on a variety of issues. Dombrowski addressed that in a meeting with the media on Friday.
"I can't speak for others in our situation, but if Matt would have come back with us we'd have felt very comfortable (for him) to be back with the club," Dombrowski said. "We wouldn't have made a move unless we felt good about the return that we received. I've always had a good relationship with him myself and love talking to his wife and daughter. Other people would have to speak on that, but that's my perspective."
In exchange, the Phillies got Bowlan, 29, who has pitched parts of three seasons with the Royals, although it were the briefest of stints in 2023 and 2024.
Last season, Bowlan appeared in 34 games for Kansas City and tossed 44 1.3 innings. He had a 3.86 ERA and a WHIP of 1.218. He allowed just 37 hits - although six were homers - and struck out 46 while walking just 17.
Jonathan Bowlan, the RHP swapped for Matt Strahm, made the switch to reliever last season.
Appeared in 34 games pitching to a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 innings. Had 46 strikeouts to 17 walks and a 1.218 WHIP. #Phillies pic.twitter.com/kxJNo7Ky3Y
A second round pick of the Royals in 2018, Bowlan throws five pitches, but mostly a Fastball/Sinker and a slider mix. His sinker averages 96.1 MPH, a nearly 4 MPH increase over Strahm.
Bowlan is especially tough on righties. Right-handed hitters slashed .182/.255/.250 for an OPS of .505. He allowed just one home run to a righty in 2025.
The Phillies are certainly course correcting against right-handed batters in 2026. Adding Keller, Zach McCambley in the Rule 5 draft and now Bowlan, the Phillies are loading up on guys who are especially tough on righties.
"We like Bowlan a lot," Dombrowski said. "We think he really came into his own in the second half of last year."
The other thing with Bowlan is the Phillies have several years of control remaining on him. Bowlan isn't even arbitration eligible until 2029 and can not become a free agent until 2032.
Bowlan is out of minor league options, though. So he is almost certain to be on the Opening Day roster, barring injury.
"We talked long and hard about it because he is out of options," Dombrowski said. "We just felt that through all of our conversations internally that he definitely is a guy that we're counting on to be in our bullpen."
Later Friday, he Phillies backfilled their bullpen by trading for Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Kyle Backhus in exchange for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. Backhus has multiple minor league options remaining and will battle for one of the final two spots in the bullpen.
