Royals acquire LHP Matt Strahm from Phillies

Field Level Media|published: 12/19/2025, 10:37am EST

Aug 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm (25) is greeted by teammates in the dugout after the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Royals acquired left-handed reliever Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan.

Strahm, 34, returns to the team that selected him in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his big-league debut for the Royals in 2016 and spent parts of two seasons with the team before pitching with the San Diego Padres (2018-21), Boston Red Sox (2022) and Phillies.

Strahm followed up an All-Star nod in 2024 by posting a 2-3 record with six saves and a 2.74 ERA in 66 relief appearances last season.

He is 34-38 with 15 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 395 career appearances (35 starts).

Bowlan, 29, went 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 34 appearances (one start) last season.

He is 1-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 37 career appearances (three starts) with the Royals.

--Field Level Media