Phillies trade Strahm to Royals for Bowlan in reliever swap
The Philadelphia Phillies traded left-hander Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, the teams announced Friday.
Strahm, a 2024 All-Star, authored a 2.74 ERA with a 2.99 FIP and 10.1 K/9 over 66 appearances this year. The reliever started his MLB career with the Royals in 2016 after the team drafted him in 2012.
Bowlan posted a 3.86 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 46 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings during his rookie campaign in 2025.
Strahm, 34, will make $7.5 million next season in his final year under contract. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Bowlan is under club control through 2031.
The Phillies also acquired left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for outfield prospect Avery Owusu-Asiedu.
Backhus, 27, recorded a 4.62 ERA with 1.42 WHIP and 7.8 K/9 over 25 1/3 innings as a rookie in 2025. Left-handed hitters slashed .139/.225/.278 against him over 41 plate appearances.