"Strahm is one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball. Last season with the Phillies, he authored a 2.74 ERA and 2.99 FIP in 62.1 innings pitched, with a 27.3 K% and 7.8 BB%. The 34-year-old was coming off a career-year in 2024, where he had a 1.87 ERA and 2.29 FIP in 62.2 innings pitched, with a 33.3 K% and 4.6 BB%."
"You have to look under the hood to understand the return for the Phillies. Bowlan's fastball averaged 95.7 mph last season and he has a five-pitch mix, not often seen in a reliever. The righty also did a tremendous job generating whiffs, as he had a 33.7 whiff% and 31.4 chase%, among the best in baseball. This is all on top of generating an above-average ground ball percentage and limiting hard contact."
The Phillies traded left-handed reliever Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm posted a 2.74 ERA and 2.99 FIP in 62.1 innings last season and had a career year in 2024 with a 1.87 ERA and 2.29 FIP; he has strong strikeout rates and extensive high-leverage experience, including 63 holds and 15 saves over recent seasons. Bowlan recorded a 3.86 ERA and 3.97 FIP in 44.1 innings in 2025 but offers a 95.7 mph fastball, a five-pitch mix, elite whiff and chase rates, above-average groundball tendencies, and the ability to limit hard contact. The return is viewed as light given Strahm’s proven track record, with roster context mentioning Brendon Little and a potential Blue Jays interest that could have matched the offer.
Read at BlueJaysNation
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