The Atlanta Braves are making an early investment in their bullpen, signing former Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract this week.
Announced Thursday, the deal brings the 32-year-old right-hander back to the organization that originally drafted him in the 17th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Phillips made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2018, appearing in four games before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in a deal that brought Kevin Gausman to the Braves.
Now, eight years later, Phillips is returning to Atlanta with an impressive track record and the potential to become a major piece of the team’s bullpen moving forward.
Phillips spent the past several seasons establishing himself as one of the more dependable relief pitchers in baseball with the Dodgers. Since 2022, he owns a 2.31 ERA, the lowest mark in the National League over that span. He also played a significant role in Los Angeles’ 2024 World Series championship run. His 2026 season, however, came with some uncertainty.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2025, Phillips missed the first half of the 2026 campaign before returning to the Dodgers shortly before the All-Star break. He appeared in 31 games, recording a 3.46 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 26 innings. While those numbers may not jump off the page, Phillips showed encouraging signs as the season progressed. Over his final 14 regular-season appearances, he posted a 1.46 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. He also delivered five scoreless appearances during the postseason, further demonstrating that he could still be trusted in high-leverage situations.
Closer Raisel Iglesias is entering free agency, leaving the Braves with questions about how their late-inning bullpen will look heading into 2027.
The addition of Phillips gives Atlanta another experienced option capable of handling high-pressure situations. He joins an established group that includes Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee, while the future role of young right-hander Didier Fuentes remains to be determined. Phillips has recorded 47 career saves and brings extensive postseason experience to a bullpen that could look significantly different next season. His ability to miss bats is another major selling point. Phillips struck out 31.1% of opposing hitters in 2026, while his fastball averaged approximately 96.9 mph following his return from surgery.
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