The Dodgers’ decision to non-tender Evan Phillips this winter has turned one of baseball’s most reliable recent relievers into a fascinating long-range free-agent bet. He’s unlikely to pitch in 2025 as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.
Phillips’ mix of past dominance and patience has made him a potential bullpen prize for contenders looking ahead to 2026 and 2027.
Evan Phillips’ Non-Tender: Business Decision, Not Talent Judgment
The Dodgers didn’t cut ties with Phillips because he wasn’t good enough. They did it because of timing and cost.
Heading into arbitration, Phillips was projected to earn around $6.1 million in 2025. That’s a steep figure for a reliever who might not throw a pitch next season after UCL reconstruction in early June.
For a club juggling a massive payroll and luxury-tax headaches, that number became all about risk. Rather than pay a rehabbing reliever at a premium, Los Angeles non-tendered him and let him hit free agency during recovery.
Why Phillips Still Projects as a Premium Bullpen Arm
Even with the surgery, front offices don’t need to look far back to see why Phillips will draw attention. From 2022 through 2024, he quietly became one of the most effective relievers in the game.
Over that stretch, Phillips put up:
Those aren’t middle-reliever numbers. That’s the profile of a high-leverage arm who can handle the eighth, ninth, and pretty much any tense spot.
Atypical Contract Strategy: One-Year Deal Over the Rehab Two-Year
Most pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery chase a two-year deal: one to rehab, one to pitch and rebuild value. Phillips is taking a different path.
He reportedly wants a one-year contract so he can return to free agency next offseason.
That says a lot—he’s betting on his recovery and wants to maximize his future earning power when he’s healthy again.
Why Waiting Could Pay Off Big for Phillips
Phillips isn’t rushing to sign. His camp is ready to wait until at least January, when he can start throwing again, or even as late as July, when he’s closer to game-ready and can show where he stands.
There are a few smart reasons to delay:
Red Sox Interest and the Broader Market
The Boston Red Sox have already been linked to Phillips, and they make sense. Boston needs long-term bullpen help and could treat 2025 as an investment year, paying for rehab with hopes for 2026 and beyond.
They won’t be alone. Any club that wants to keep contending—and has the patience to stash a reliever on a rehab track—will at least check in. Look for interest from:
Balancing Security vs. Long-Term Upside
Phillips faces a classic risk-reward equation. He can:
For teams, this really tests vision and patience. For Phillips, it’s a shot to turn a tough rehab year into a springboard for the next phase of his career.
If his stuff comes anywhere close to pre-injury levels, whoever grabs him isn’t just getting a reclamation project. They might be locking in a real anchor for the back end of their bullpen in 2026 and 2027.
Here is the source article for this story: Latest On Evan Phillips
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