Sports

Dodgers Non-Tender Former Closer, Who Becomes a Free Agent: Report

2025-11-21 17:20
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A reliever helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2024 but was sidelined early in the 2025 season is now a free agent.

Jon Paul HoornstraBy Jon Paul Hoornstra

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Dodgers did not tender a contract to former closer Evan Phillips ahead of Friday's non-tender deadline, according to a new report.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Phillips, who made seven scoreless appearances for the Dodgers in 2025 before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in June, will now head to free agency.

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As noted by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Phillips was projected to make $6.1 million in arbitration by MLB Trade Rumors — a high price to pay for a pitcher who might not be healthy until 2027.

Phillips, 31, helped the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series and was set to be part of the team's bullpen picture as they looked to repeat in 2025.

Dodgers Evan Phillips...

Without Phillips, who was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in May, the Dodgers struggled to hold leads in the late innings all season.

By Game 7 of the World Series, the Dodgers were forced to rely on starting pitchers — Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — to pitch the final 7.1 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Phillips saved 24 games for the Dodgers in 23, and 18 in 2024.

More to come on this story.

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