The Dodgers have a bullpen problem to solve, and it’s getting harder by the day.
With Evan Phillips now headed to the Atlanta Braves on a three-year, $35 million deal, Los Angeles has already lost one of its most trusted late-inning arms. Alex Vesia is still on the board, but the Dodgers want him back and he’s drawing heavy interest across the league, which leaves the front office staring at a market that’s thinning out fast.
Phillips had been a fixture in the Dodgers’ bullpen for the last five and a half seasons, but the club was never going to match that kind of price. He missed all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery and then nearly half of 2026 because of right forearm discomfort, so an $11.6 million AAV was too steep for Los Angeles to chase.
Vesia is a different kind of question, and a tougher one. The 30-year-old lefty has been one of baseball’s better relievers over the past several seasons, and his Dodgers résumé backs that up: a 2.66 ERA and 6.3 bWAR across 367 appearances over the last six seasons. That kind of production can push a reliever into the same neighborhood Phillips just landed in, including a possible three-year deal.
That’s where the Dodgers’ larger spending picture comes into play. They’ve already committed major money to Edwin Diaz, who got three years and $69 million, and Tanner Scott, who received four years and $72 million, over the past two years. Another big bullpen contract would be a tough sell.
So if Los Angeles wants to keep building out the relief corps without going overboard, the more realistic path may be shorter-term additions. Among the left-handers still available, Tim Hill, Brooks Raley and A.J.
Minter stand out as names the Dodgers have either shown interest in or should at least be considering. None of them should require a massive commitment, and each could fit as a useful short-term piece.
On the right side, Paul Blackburn is the most obvious name to watch after a breakout season as a high-leverage reliever with the New York Yankees. But that kind of year usually comes with a price tag, and Blackburn is expected to land a multi-year deal with a high AAV. If Phillips got three years and $35 million, Blackburn should be in position to beat that.
Bryan Abreu is another right-handed option who could make sense. His 2026 season wasn’t strong, but he has been one of Houston’s better relievers dating back to 2022, and the Dodgers could bet on a bounce-back if they want to take a swing.
There’s also the internal route. Los Angeles could shift one or two starters into the bullpen, with Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan or Justin Wrobleski as possibilities. That becomes easier if the Dodgers re-sign Skubal and Shohei Ohtani returns to the rotation.
However they do it, the Dodgers need to replace Phillips and may also have to cover Vesia’s innings if he leaves too. The cleanest answer would be one high-leverage righty and one high-leverage lefty, but cost control has to stay part of the plan.
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