There are two things that have become guarantees when it comes to free agency and Alex Anthopoulos. He’s going to act quickly, and he’s not afraid to spend big money on the bullpen.
Both of those were proven true with the Braves’ first significant splash of the offseason, inking reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract.
#Braves Sign Evan Phillips: pic.twitter.com/2ozx27CQUG
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 12, 2026
Phillips was actually drafted by the Braves in the 17th round back in 2015. He would go on to make his MLB debut three years later before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the deal that netted the Braves Kevin Gausman.
But his career really took off when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second half of the 2021 season. That’s where he’s been for the last five years, boasting a 2.36 ERA over 232 appearances.
Phillips’ best season came back in 2022, when he posted a silly 1.14 ERA in 64 games. He followed that up with another really solid season in 2023, recording a 2.04 ERA. But in 2025, he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. That cost him most of the season, and he only pitched in 31 games this year, finishing with a respectable 3.46 ERA.
That normally would be a cause for concern when handing a relief pitcher a three-year contract, but Phillips’ stuff was still off the charts. He struck out 31% of the batters he faced, featuring a fastball/sweeper combination that made opponents feel helpless.
With Raisel Iglesias hitting free agency and the Braves planning on moving Didier Fuentes back to the rotation, adding another high-leverage reliever was a must. Atlanta can now feel comfortable with that plan, moving Robert Suarez to the closer role, and one would assume this is the end of the line for Iglesias, who was outstanding for the Braves after they acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline.
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Photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire