Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips will endure Tommy John surgical procedure, supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. He’ll miss the rest of this season and most or all of 2026 as effectively.
It’s a crushing blow to the Dodger bullpen and for Phillips personally. Claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay in 2021, the 6-foot-2 righty broke out as probably the greatest relievers within the recreation upon touchdown in Los Angeles. He fired 63 innings of 1.14 ERA ball throughout his first full season as a Dodger. Phillips adopted up with a 2.05 mark whereas recording 24 saves after rising because the crew’s nearer. He saved one other 18 video games final yr earlier than transferring right into a setup position after they acquired Michael Kopech on the deadline.
Phillips had averted any arm accidents over that stretch. His solely two injured record stints have been associated to his quad and hamstring, respectively. That modified final fall. Phillips pitched by arm fatigue in the course of the early levels of the crew’s playoff run. It grew to become vital sufficient that the membership needed to scratch him for the World Sequence. Phillips revealed over the offseason that the difficulty was primarily together with his shoulder, as he was ultimately identified with a barely torn rotator cuff tendon. He averted surgical procedure however took issues slowly throughout his ramp-up and started the season on the injured record.
The 30-year-old righty made it again to the mound in the midst of April. Phillips appeared nice by seven appearances, reeling off 5 2/3 scoreless frames with six strikeouts. The return proved short-lived, because the Dodgers positioned him again on the IL three weeks later with forearm discomfort. They transferred him to the 60-day injured record Thursday because the corresponding transfer within the Alexis Díaz commerce. That assured he wouldn’t be again for some time. The crew presumably knew on the time that he was destined for surgical procedure.
Phillips is considered one of a staggering 14 Dodger pitchers on the injured record. All however three are on the 60-day model. Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates are all potential high-leverage arms who’re sidelined. Kopech must be again quickly, whereas Yates and Treinen are amid throwing packages. Tanner Scott is the crew’s prime wholesome reliever. Alex Vesia, Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer have largely held up in center reduction roles. Lou Trivino, who signed a minor league deal earlier this month, was shortly referred to as up and instantly thrown into high-leverage conditions.
There’s an opportunity this ends Phillips’ tenure in Los Angeles. He’s enjoying on a $6.1M wage. He’d be eligible for arbitration a remaining time subsequent offseason. That’d include an analogous wage to this season’s in the event that they tender him a contract. A non-tender appears doubtless given the likelihood that he’ll miss all of subsequent yr. The Dodgers are extra keen than another crew to gamble on proficient pitchers with well being considerations. Even when they non-tender Phillips, they may subsequently attempt to work out a backloaded two-year deal within the hope of getting him again wholesome for your complete ’27 season.
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