The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought back veteran relief pitcher Evan Phillips, signing him to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million on Wednesday. This agreement comes just three months after the team initially non-tendered Phillips at the start of the offseason, marking a notable return to the Dodgers for the right-handed pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Phillips, 31, was always expected to eventually rejoin the Dodgers despite the early offseason roster move. The team’s strategy allowed them to maintain flexibility on their 40-man roster during the winter and clear space for him now that he is projected to return midseason. The Dodgers will also utilize the 60-day injured list to manage their roster while Phillips continues his recovery.
Roster Management and Related Moves by Dodgers
In order to accommodate Phillips’ return to the roster, the Dodgers designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment. Rortvedt had been claimed back by the Dodgers only days prior after initially being designated for assignment and lost to waivers earlier this offseason. The team hopes Rortvedt will clear waivers so he can remain with the organization as a minor-league catcher.
The Dodgers could employ a similar roster strategy with Kiké Hernández, who remains a free agent this winter while recovering from elbow surgery. This approach reflects the team’s effort to manage their depth carefully amid several injury recoveries.
Phillips’ Performance and Injury History with Dodgers
Since joining the Dodgers in 2021, Evan Phillips has been a reliable bullpen arm, maintaining an impressive 2.22 ERA over three seasons. However, last year he made only seven appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season and delayed his expected return until midseason 2024.
Despite the non-tender decision in November, Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, maintained the organization’s commitment to Phillips. The $6.5 million deal Phillips signed slightly exceeds his projected arbitration salary had he not been released, underscoring the team’s valuation of his contributions once healthy.
Strategic Implications for the Dodgers’ Season
By re-signing Phillips, the Dodgers reinforce their bullpen depth headed into the 2024 campaign, a critical factor given the continued uncertainty around injured players such as Kiké Hernández. Phillips’ return is anticipated to occur in midseason, providing a boost to a pitching staff that has proven key to the Dodgers’ recent success.
This roster maneuvering also demonstrates the Dodgers’ ongoing efforts under Andrew Friedman to balance player health management with competitive readiness, leveraging roster rules and injured lists creatively.
The Dodgers will look to optimize their pitching staff as spring training approaches, and Phillips is expected to be a significant contributor as he fully recovers. Fans and analysts will closely watch how his comeback influences the team’s bullpen performance and overall season trajectory.
