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Phillies trade Matt Strahm to Royals, shed salary in reliever swap

The Phillies traded one of their top bullpen arms from the last three seasons in a move that cleared some salary from the payroll.

Left-hander Matt Strahm is heading back to Kansas City, where he first began his career with the Royals in 2016, and right-hander Jonathan Bowlan will join the Phillies, the club announced Friday morning. Strahm had a 2.74 ERA in 66 appearances in 2025. He’s set to earn $7.5 million next season, while Bowlan is still pre-arbitration.

Strahm, 34, joined the Phillies in 2023 and instantly became one of the most effective pitchers on the staff.