In the first significant transaction of the offseason, the Braves have inked right-handed reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year contract worth $35 million. Phillips returns to the organization that drafted him out of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the 17th round in 2015.
It took Phillips a few years to establish himself in the majors after he debuted with Atlanta in 2018. He was traded to the Orioles in a deal that brought Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day less than a month after his major league debut, and he was released by Baltimore after posting a 7.36 ERA over parts of three seasons. Phillips had a brief stint with the Rays in the summer of 2021, but was designated for assignment after just one appearance. The righty was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers, and his career took off in the subsequent seasons. Over six seasons in Los Angeles, Phillips posted a 2.36 ERA with 254 strikeouts against 58 walks to go with 46 saves across 221 innings. However, he missed the 2024 World Series due to an arm injury, and in 2025, he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery after making just seven appearances. The Dodgers non-tendered him following the 2025 season, though they re-signed him right before spring training.
In Atlanta, Phillips will join a bullpen featuring two-time All-Star Robert Suarez and fireballing 21-year-old Didier Fuentes. Atlanta’s long-time closer, Raisel Iglesias, is currently a free agent. In 2026, the Braves’ bullpen ranked fourth in the majors with a 3.44 ERA.
