Amidst a flurry of pre-2024 regular season maneuvers, the Philadelphia Phillies disclosed on Sunday that they’ve prolonged the contract of left-handed reliever Matt Strahm through the 2025 season. The agreement also encompasses a club and vesting option for 2026.
Reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the 32-year-old is set to earn $7.5 million in 2025, with the club option for 2026 valued at $4.5 million, contingent upon Strahm pitching a minimum of 60 innings in 2025, at which point it would transition into a vesting option.
Since joining Philadelphia ahead of the 2023 season, Strahm has proven to be a valuable asset for the team. Initially starting the previous season in the rotation before transitioning to the bullpen, Strahm showcased reliability in various pitching roles.
Starting in ten games, Strahm recorded a 4.05 ERA with 43 strikeouts across 33 1/3 innings. However, due to concerns about his innings workload, the Phillies, as reported by Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, opted to utilize him in a relief capacity to maintain arm freshness.
Thriving in his relief role, Strahm registered a 2.82 ERA in 46 appearances covering 54 1/3 innings. Whether deployed for extended stints or as a single-inning pitcher, he demonstrated versatility, even securing two saves during the season.
In both starter and reliever capacities, Strahm limited opponents to a meager .213 batting average while striking out 30.8% of hitters faced. Additionally, he performed commendably in postseason play, yielding just two baserunners across three scoreless innings.
Heading into the 2024 season, Strahm is poised to be a cornerstone of the Phillies’ formidable bullpen, as he was in the previous season. Following a healthy 2023 campaign and honing a new pitch, Strahm is primed for the challenges of the upcoming season.
Acknowledging his pitch repertoire adjustments, Strahm attributed his progress to Caleb Cotham and Bryan Kaplan. Emphasizing the Phillies’ approach of flexible bullpen assignments under Rob Thomson’s guidance, Strahm anticipates contributing in diverse roles akin to his performance in 2023.
Expressing his satisfaction with the extension, Strahm conveyed his enthusiasm on social media shortly after the announcement.
Earlier this spring, he shared his sentiments with Seidman regarding the experience of playing in Philadelphia.
“Last year’s postseason exceeded all my expectations. The atmosphere at The Bank is truly unparalleled, in my opinion. I’m eager for October already, and it’s a bit frustrating that we have to endure May through August.”
Strahm has performed admirably this spring and appears ready to kick off the upcoming season. Across six innings of spring training, he has recorded 11 strikeouts, boasting a 3.00 ERA and an impressive 0.67 WHIP.
The decision to extend the versatile southpaw’s contract reflects shrewdness on the part of the Phillies’ front office. Securing a pivotal asset in their bullpen for at least another year is poised to cement the team’s relief pitching unit as one of the finest in baseball for the foreseeable future.
