The Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered reliever Evan Phillips and is now a free agent, per MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.
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Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery June 4. The right-hander tossed just 5.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2025.
Phillips played a pivotal role with the Dodgers in 2024 as the team’s strength was their bullpen that season. The right-hander sported a 3.62 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 54.2 innings pitched.
During the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run, Phillips allowed no runs across 6.2 innings. He did not pitch in the Fall Classic after sustaining a partial tear in his rotator cuff.
In June, Phillips spoke about undergoing surgery and what he hoped to be a part of with the Dodgers in 2026.
“It’s going to be hard to be away from the game for this long,” Phillips said. “Ultimately, there is not much I can do about it, and I do have that clear path forward to where we’ll attack this thing head on, rehab it, and hopefully get back to being a best version of myself in the second part of next year and be a part of that championship run.”
Now, the right-hander is on the market and can sign elsewhere. Phillips could return to the Dodgers if the team signs him as a free agent.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman revealed LA is still interested in re-signing the reliever.
“We had a number of back and forth discussions with Evan and his free agent. It is challenging with him coming off surgery so he is going to take some time and look to sign after he throws off the mound when his rehab allows,” Friedman said. “Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect that he is taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”
Dodgers Non-Tender Nick Frasso
Along with Phillips, the Dodges also non-tendered right-hander Nick Frasso. At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Frasso sported a 5.49 ERA across 77 innings pitched in 2025.
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Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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9 Responses
I didn’t think they had it in them to dump him..
Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers are still interested in re-signing Phillips, so there’s a chance he will return to LA.
He was a good pitcher for us, bring him back, let him work his way back to the team. Hate for us to hone in their skill level , only to trade or lose him unprotected and he gets poached by the Giants or Padres! And they end up being great for other teams
Seems unfair to Phillips. Maybe they will beat any offers he gets as a free agent and bring him back, with the hope that he will be able to pitch in September and October 2026. The $5 million or so they are saving by not paying Phillips they are going to use to pay Corey Seager when they trade for him with Texas.
I imagine the dodgers are sick and tired of playing the injured relief pitcher musical chairs. I love EP but this is a business and if I’m Brusdar Graterol, im looking over my shoulder and sleeping with one eye open. One has to believe thst the amount of injuries to Dodger relievers in 2025 is without precedent. It was absolutely disgusting.
Sad, we like Evan Phillips he is a good pitcher. You give it your all and get injured then let go??
Let’s hope management has enough guts to re-sign Phillips. Sure, he was yet another Dodger pitcher on an extended IL, but who hasn’t been and they’ve either signed or kept far less effective pitchers. He’s a team and fan favorite and deserves another chance. I have a feeling another more astute team will pick him up before that happens, however.
I think the Dodgers re-signing Phillips is a real possibility given Andrew Friedman’s statement on the matter.
This is a truly shocking and difficult-to-process move. Evan Phillips wasn’t just a reliever; he was the unequivocal, lockdown high-leverage anchor of the bullpen for the last few seasons. His consistency and ability to get both right and left-handed hitters out made him one of the most valuable relievers in baseball. This feels like a decision driven by something beyond just the arbitration salary.
Does this non-tender signal a profound lack of faith in Phillips’ health or performance going forward, or is it primarily a brutal financial calculation to reallocate that ~$8-10 million in arbitration funds toward a larger need, like another starting pitcher, with the belief that the bullpen can be patched together with lower-cost options?