The Philadelphia Phillies have spent much of the season looking for reliable answers in the bullpen, a challenge that was made more complicated by a trade decision in the offseason.
After three years of steady results, including an All-Star campaign in 2024, the Phillies decided to part ways with some integral left-handed relief depth last winter, and the loss of an experienced arm created another question for a team with postseason expectations.
But as the season has gone on, the Phillies’ decision to trade Matt Strahm away to the Kansas City Royals has appeared like a sound one, even as the team continues to face bullpen questions. Strahm’s season is now over following numerous setbacks with health and performance.
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On Sunday, news surfaced that the former Phillies reliever has seen his own 2026 campaign come to an abrupt end.
“Veteran left-handed reliever Matt Strahm underwent successful right knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season,” MLB insider Robert Murray reported for FanSided. “Strahm weighed offers to continue pitching this season but ultimately decided to undergo surgery to be fully healthy for next season.”
The decision officially ended a difficult season for Strahm, whose performance deteriorated significantly after his knee issues became more pronounced, though it’s unclear if he really would have had any opportunities to continue pitching this season.
The Royals designated him for assignment on August 4. Strahm had also gone on the injured list in May for right knee inflammation.
“He was activated at the end of May and appeared in another 24 games, and the results were downright dreadful,” AJ Eustace wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “In 19 1/3 innings post-injury, Strahm allowed a staggering 22 earned runs on 25 hits, nine of which were home runs. That brutal stretch raised the lefty’s ERA to 7.32 on the season, good for third-worst among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched.”
After clearing waivers following a release from the Royals, Strahm’s priority is now recovering from surgery and preparing for another opportunity in 2027.
Strahm spent three seasons with the Phillies after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the club in December 2022, which was followed by an extension that included a club option for this season. He quickly became one of Philadelphia’s most effective relievers, posting a 3.29 ERA with 108 strikeouts over 87 and two-thirds innings in 2023.
His 2024 campaign was even better. Strahm appeared in 66 games and recorded a 1.87 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 62 and two-thirds innings, helping establish himself as one of the Phillies’ most trusted late-inning options. He followed that with a 2.74 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 62 and one-third innings across 66 appearances in 2025.
Philadelphia then dealt Strahm to Kansas City in December in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, ending a productive chapter with the Phillies. The move did not produce the results the Royals or Strahm hoped for and now he will return to the open market with some challenges ahead.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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