The Phillies announced this morning that they’ve signed left-hander Matt Strahm to a one-year extension. The deal comes with a vesting club option for the 2026 campaign. Strahm had been slated to hit free agency following the 2024 campaign. The specifics of the deal, including the guaranteed money and details regarding the 2026 option, are not yet known.
Strahm, 32, signed a two-year, $15MM deal with the Phillies prior to the 2023 season. His first season in Philadelphia was a resounding success, as he posted a strong 3.29 ERA with a nearly-matching 3.24 FIP in 87 2/3 innings while splitting time between the club’s rotation and bullpen. While the southpaw held his own during his time in the club’s rotation with a 4.05 ERA in 33 1/3 innings, he was nothing short of dominant in relief as he posted a sparkling 2.82 ERA while striking out 30.1% of batters faced during that time. That led the Phillies to look for additional starting pitching depth this winter, in part so they could keep Strahm in a full-time relief role rather than swing him between the rotation and bullpen as dictated by injuries to the club’s starting staff. With the club’s offseason signing of right-hander Spencer Turnbull to act as a swing man, Strahm appears poised to have a bullpen-only role for at least the start of the 2024 campaign.
More to come…
