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 nicely.
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 top-of-the-line relievers within the sport 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 group’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 prevented any arm accidents over that stretch. His solely two injured listing stints had been associated to his quad and hamstring, respectively. That modified final fall. Phillips pitched by arm fatigue through the early levels of the group’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 along with his shoulder, as he was finally identified with a barely torn rotator cuff tendon. He prevented surgical procedure however took issues slowly throughout his ramp-up and commenced the season on the injured listing.
The 30-year-old righty made it again to the mound in the course of April. Phillips seemed 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 listing Thursday because the corresponding transfer within the Alexis Díaz commerce. That assured he wouldn’t be again for some time. The group presumably knew on the time that he was destined for surgical procedure.
Phillips is one among a staggering 14 Dodger pitchers on the injured listing. 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 ought to be again quickly, whereas Yates and Treinen are amid throwing packages. Tanner Scott is the group’s high 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 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 closing time subsequent offseason. That’d include the same wage to this season’s in the event that they tender him a contract. A non-tender appears possible given the likelihood that he’ll miss all of subsequent yr. The Dodgers are extra prepared than some other group to gamble on gifted pitchers with well being issues. Even when they non-tender Phillips, they might subsequently attempt to work out a backloaded two-year deal within the hope of getting him again wholesome for the complete ’27 season.
