The Los Angeles Dodgers are still looking for relievers this offseason, and could make a move for the future by re-signing Evan Phillips, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo.
The Dodgers non-tendered Phillips in November rather than pay him $6.1 million in arbitration, as he is likely to miss most — if not all — of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025. Despite this, Ardaya and Woo report Phillips is “on the Dodgers’ radar.”
The Dodgers claimed Phillips off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, and he immediately produced results for LA out of the bullpen.
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He had a respectable 3.48 ERA in his first season with the Dodgers, pitching 10.1 innings through seven appearances.
Phillips took on a larger role in the subsequent season, posting a dominant 1.14 ERA through 64 appearances, and setting a career high with seven wins on the season. He also managed a career high in strikeouts that season, notching 77 Ks through 63 innings pitched.
The right-hander took over as the Dodgers’ primary closer in 2023, recording 24 saves in 27 attempts, and his 2.05 ERA is still the second best mark he’s provided through any season where he has made more than 10 appearances.
2024 didn’t go quite as well as the previous two seasons, though Phillips still played an important role in the Dodgers’ push for the World Series. He threw in 61 games, passing the 60 mark for the third time in as many seasons, and has a 3.62 ERA.
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The 31-year-old made seven appearances in the 2025 season before landing on the injured list, not allowing a run through 5.2 innings pitched.
Signing Phillips wouldn’t immediately solve the Dodgers’ need for a reliever in 2026, but would bring an MLB-proven arm back to the bullpen and provide some stability for future seasons.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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