Dodgers to sign righty reliever coming off Tommy John surgery to $6.5 million contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series during the 2025 MLB season, and while it was an incredible accomplishment, there was a clear need the team had: Bullpen help.

They addressed that need in a major way with the Edwin Diaz contract, but the team could still use some more depth. That's where the latest addition comes in.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers are in agreement with former Dodgers World Series champion and righty reliever Evan Phillips on a $6.5 million contract. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Phillips is getting a solid deal from the Dodgers.

Dodgers to sign $6.5M contract with reliever coming off Tommy John surgery

"Right-handed reliever Evan Phillips and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $6.5 million contract," Passan reports. "Phillips, 31, is coming off Tommy John surgery and is expected to return around July."

The Dodgers are bringing Phillips back for the 2026 season after his very early-season injury last year that led to Tommy John surgery.

The 31-year-old reliever made just seven appearances in 2025, posting a 0.00 ERA and 0.4 bWAR to begin the season. But he missed the bulk of the year and is going to miss half of this upcoming season.

More: MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency

Phillips will act as a trade deadline pickup for the Dodgers with this July return date. He could come back to help the Dodgers' bullpen in the second half of the season.

Despite coming to terms with the Dodgers before Spring Training, this addition for the bullpen will act as a mid-season pickup.

In his MLB career since his debut in 2018, Phillips has a 3.36 ERA, and for the Dodgers in 2024, he posted a 0.00 ERA in five appearances and 6.2 innings for their World Series run.

This is a savvy signing for the Dodgers, and could become a very important one by the end of the season. $6.5 million isn't cheap, but it's also a big discount if he can get back to how he was pitching before his injury.

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