Phillies complete two trades in bullpen reshuffling
The Phillies have made two bullpen trades in one day in an effort to reshuffle the mix heading into 2026.
Hours after trading veteran left-handed reliever Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, the Phillies picked up left-hander Kyle Backhus from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. Earlier this week, the Phillies signed former Cubs reliever Brad Keller to a two-year contract.
The moves leave the Phillies with more bullpen depth, but a new look to the backend mix. Entering the offseason, the club’s five best relievers were Strahm, Jhoan Duran, José Alvarado, Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Friday that the club preferred to have three righties and two lefties in their high leverage group of five. It led to the decision to add Keller and subtract Strahm.
Keller had a breakout season as a reliever with Chicago in 2025. The Phillies strongly believe that they’re getting a lot more than a one-year wonder.
“All of our scouting work, our analytical work, our pitching people that have taken a look at him, between Caleb (Cotham) and the rest of the group, everybody thinks, and people that we talk to think, ‘This is him now. He’s a legit backend type guy,'” Dombrowski said about Keller. “When you throw him with Duran and Kerkering from the right-hand side, we really feel great about that from the right-hand side in addition to the lefties. We just think it’s legit. We think he’s made that turn to do so.”
Strahm is owed $7.5 million in 2026. Moving Strahm’s money doesn’t necessarily free up the funds for moves elsewhere. They’re still in the market for a catcher. They are still waiting on a decision from J.T. Realmuto.
“Our ownership is tremendous,” Dombrowski said. “You’re always cognizant of where your payroll will be. They will never force me to do anything that we didn’t feel comfortable with. We still have the ability to do some things. We’re still in that spot and we’re still looking for a catcher, first and foremost. But this doesn’t have anything to do with us having more or less money to go ahead and spend for a catcher. That’s really been in our thought process all winter long.”
The lefty Backhus has minor league options remaining, meaning he could be sent down to the minor leagues without being exposed to waivers. He’ll enter the season as the Phillies’ third left-handed relief option behind Alvarado and Banks.
The 27-year-old lefty averages 91 mph on his fastball, but gets great extension and comes at hitters with an unusually low arm angle. In 32 major league appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2025, Backhus posted a 4.62 ERA.
Bowlan does not have any minor league options left. He will be used as a reliever.
“We talked long and hard about it because he is out of options,” Dombrowski said about Bowlan. “We just felt that through all of our conversations internally that he’s definitely a guy that we’re counting on to be in our bullpen.”
The Phillies, barring injuries and more trades, head into the season with all eight spots accounted for in the bullpen. This assumes that Taijuan Walker will begin the year in the rotation with Zack Wheeler expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the regular season as part of his recovery from TOS surgery.
- RHP Jhoan Duran (closer)
- RHP Brad Keller
- LHP José Alvarado
- RHP Orion Kerkering
- LHP Tanner Banks
- RHP Jonathan Bowlan
- LHP Kyle Backhus
- RHP Zach McCambley (Rule 5 selection)
The Phillies have six spots in the bullpen for relievers who either are out of options or are very unlikely to be optioned. Kerkering and Banks have options, but both are expected to remain in the majors if they continue to be effective. Backhus having options gives them some flexibility. As a Rule 5 selection, McCambley has to stay on the active roster in order to remain in the organization.
Strahm had an excellent run with the Phillies. Signed in December 2022 to a two-year contract, the lefty spent his first month in Philadelphia as a member of the rotation, then moved to the bullpen for the remainder of his tenure. In three seasons with the Phillies, Strahm posted a 2.71 ERA. He made the All-Star team in 2024.
“Matt’s done a good job for us,” Dombrowski said. “I thanked him when I talked to him today for everything he’s done. He’s done a nice solid job for us. He’s been a good part of our ball club. We’re in a spot though with the three left-handers, we didn’t necessarily think we needed all three.”