The Dodgers have already watched eight players hit free agency this offseason, and Evan Phillips is one of the names that still matters in a big way. He may not sit at the very top of the priority list - Tarik Skubal and Alex Vesia are described as even more important pieces from last year - but Phillips still looks like a reliever Los Angeles should be eager to keep around.
His 2026 season was a mixed bag, and it started with a rough one. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Phillips was hit hard in July, putting up a 6.14 ERA across eight games in his first month back.
But once he settled in, the right-hander gave the Dodgers exactly the kind of bounce-back stretch they needed down the stretch. He posted a 2.61 ERA in August over 14 appearances, then followed that with a 2.16 ERA in September across nine outings.
For the season, Phillips finished with a 3.46 ERA over 26 innings and struck out 33 batters. His fastball was a real bright spot, averaging a career-best 96.8 mph. The rest of his arsenal backed that up, too, with a 31.1% strikeout rate and a 35.4% chase rate.
There were still some warning signs. Phillips gave up too much loud contact, with an average exit velocity of 91 mph and a ground ball rate of just 31.8%. He also allowed five home runs, and that’s the area he’ll need to clean up if he’s going to hold his place in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Even so, the case for bringing him back is pretty clear. Los Angeles also lost Blake Treinen to free agency after the season, and letting another experienced right-handed arm walk would sting.
Phillips has spent six years with the Dodgers and owns a 2.36 ERA in 232 games with the club. He’s been through the fire in high-leverage spots, too, serving as the team’s closer in 2023 and 2024.
The Dodgers do have other right-handers in the mix. Edwin Diaz, Edgardo Henriquez and Brock Stewart are all in the picture, while Will Klein, Ben Casparius and Jake Cousins are coming back from injuries.
But that doesn’t make Phillips any less useful. With the way the bullpen is shaped, he could still fit nicely as a middle-inning option while Diaz, Henriquez and Tanner Scott handle the late innings.
Phillips didn’t pitch at his peak for the full season, but his late-year form and his history in Los Angeles make a strong argument for keeping him in the fold.
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Dodgers Face A Freddie Freeman Decision Fans May Not Like
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The Dodgers have already shown they are willing to think ahead, and the next step may involve leaning more heavily on younger talent from a farm system that has given them real options. Freemans decline in power, speed and defense makes the decision more complicated, because this is not just about sentiment or legacy, but about how long the Dodgers can keep one of their most trusted veterans at the center of their plans. [Read more 🡒]