Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips will endure Tommy John surgical procedure, supervisor Dave Roberts instructed 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 among the finest 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 staff’s nearer. He saved one other 18 video games final yr earlier than shifting right into a setup function after they acquired Michael Kopech on the deadline.
Phillips had averted any arm accidents over that stretch. His solely two injured record stints had been associated to his quad and hamstring, respectively. That modified final fall. Phillips pitched by means of arm fatigue through the early levels of the staff’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 recognized with a barely torn rotator cuff tendon. He averted surgical procedure however took issues slowly throughout his ramp-up and commenced the season on the injured record.
The 30-year-old righty made it again to the mound in the course of April. Phillips seemed nice by means of 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 staff presumably knew on the time that he was destined for surgical procedure.
Phillips is one among 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 needs to be again quickly, whereas Yates and Treinen are amid throwing applications. Tanner Scott is the staff’s high wholesome reliever. Alex Vesia, Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer have principally held up in center reduction roles. Lou Trivino, who signed a minor league deal earlier this month, was rapidly known as up and instantly thrown into high-leverage conditions.
There’s an opportunity this ends Phillips’ tenure in Los Angeles. He’s taking part in on a $6.1M wage. He’d be eligible for arbitration a remaining time subsequent offseason. That’d include an identical wage to this season’s in the event that they tender him a contract. A non-tender appears probably given the chance that he’ll miss all of subsequent yr. The Dodgers are extra keen than some other staff 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.
