Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott said he hopes L.A. will bring back free agent reliever Evan Phillips.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott said he hopes L.A. will bring back free agent reliever Evan Phillips.
The Dodgers non-tendered Phillips in Nov. 2025, releasing him into the free agency pool. Scott and Phillips pitched together on the Baltimore Orioles from 2018-20, and reunited on the Dodgers in 2025.
“I do talk to Evan quite often,” Scott said at DodgerFest on Saturday. “I mean, we’ll see where it goes. I like the guy and hope he comes back.”
Phillips pitched just seven games for the Dodgers in 2025 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in the middle of the season. With the veteran set to miss most of 2026, the Dodgers decided not to pay him the money they would owe him for a full season in arbitration.
L.A. has talked about re-singing the right-hander, though, with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman commenting on the matter earlier in the offseason.
“We had a number of back and forth discussions with Evan and his free agent,” Friedman said. ” It is challenging with him coming off surgery so he is going to take some time and look to sign after he throws off the mound when his rehab allows. Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect that he is taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”
How Long Was Phillips With the Dodgers?
Phillips pitched in five seasons with the Dodgers, and was wildly successful after the Dodgers claimed him off waivers in 2021.
He has a 2.22 ERA through his 201 appearances with L.A., and has notched 221 strikeouts in 195 innings pitched.
Phillips played an important role in the Dodgers’ 2024 championship run, keeping a perfect 0.00 ERA through five appearances. He hasn’t allowed a run in any of his 12 postseason outings.
The Dodgers made a high-profile addition to their bullpen during the offseason with All-Star Edwin Diaz, but there’s still plenty of room for relievers. While he may not reclaim his role as the team’s closer — he logged 42 saves across 2023 and 2024 — he could very well take over as a setup man for Diaz.
Would Phillips be a welcome addition to the roster?
Category: General Sports
