The Seattle Mariners set the going rate for lefty relievers quite high last weekend, shipping out top-50 prospect Harry Ford in exchange for Washington Nationals closer Jose Ferrer. Most pundits consider the swap to be an overpay by Seattle, which is only good news for the Philadelphia Phillies.
With southpaws Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, and José Alvarado in the fold, the Phillies can afford to part with one of them to improve another area of the roster. They've received interest in all three so far this offseason (subscription required).
Strahm has been phenomenal since the Phillies signed him at the 2022 Winter Meetings. He has pitched in 188 games, mostly as a reliever, and in 212 2/3 innings he has a 2.71 ERA while holding opposing hitters to just a .198 batting average.
He's 34 now, so this might be the peak of his value and it might be smart to cash in this offseason. Given how high the Nationals set the reliever market, let’s break down three trades the Phillies could realistically make if they felt inclined to move Strahm.
3 Matt Strahm trades the Phillies should look for now that the reliever market is set
Ian Happ, CHC
The Phillies’ outfield is a wasteland as things stand currently, with free agent flop Nick Castellanos likely having played his last game in a Phillies uniform and trade deadline revelation Harrison Bader testing free agency. Brandon Marsh is currently the only outfielder who can be projected for everyday at bats in 2026. It’s quite clear that the Phillies need to add at least one quality bat to the mix.
Switch-hitter Ian Happ has been a staple in left field for the Chicago Cubs for close to a decade, providing above-average offensive numbers alongside perennial Gold Glove defense. Luckily for the Phillies, Chicago has a multitude of outfielders in need of playing time, and only three spots to go around. With only one year of team control left at a hefty $19 million, Happ should be more movable for the Cubs than a young star like Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The Cubs’ bullpen was suspect all throughout the 2025 season, and their two most reliable lefties, Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz, are both free agents. Strahm would do wonders for Chicago’s relief corps, while Happ would instantly become the best bat in the Phillies’ outfield.
Matt Vierling, DET
The Detroit Tigers had a strange year in 2025, boatracing the American League in the first half and then barely missing a complete collapse by sneaking into a Wild Card spot in the second half. Detroit’s bullpen was rock solid for most of the year, and they have already re-signed Kyle Finnegan.
However, they’ll be without key pieces Tommy Kahnle and Rafael Montero as they hit free agency. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s old team kick the tires on Strahm to shore up their bullpen next season.
The Tigers have some exciting young outfielders in Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez, all three of whom would be far too much for the Tigers to pay for a one-year rental like Strahm. However, old friend Matt Vierling now finds himself on the outside looking in at Detroit’s outfield logjam and would fit with his former club.
The 29-year-old Vierling had a 2025 season to forget, appearing in only 31 games due to rotator cuff and oblique injuries. However, he had posted a decent .257/.319/.398 line in his previous two seasons in the Motor City, and more importantly has mashed left-handed pitching throughout his career. On top of that, Vierling provides a solid glove at all three outfield positions and can even handle third base in a pinch.
Vierling isn’t the sexiest name the Phillies could bring in to address their outfield woes, but his skillset does fit the current team perfectly. The former Phillie is set to earn an affordable $3.255 million in 2026 and can be retained via arbitration for another season after that.
An All-Star-level hurler like Strahm should be able to net more in trade than a bounceback candidate like Vierling, so perhaps the Phillies could push Detroit to include Jake Rogers, their longtime starting catcher who found himself supplanted by youngster Dillon Dingler last season. Rogers is nothing special with the bat but offers a serviceable glove and would be an upgrade over Rafael Marchán as a backup.
Randy Arozarena, SEA
The Mariners may have just overpaid for one lefty reliever in Jose Ferrer, but president of baseball operations Jerry DiPoto is nicknamed “Trader Jerry” for a reason. If anyone is going to continue to push the envelope, it’s him. Dipoto likely viewed Ferrer as a necessity after going through 2025 with only one reliable southpaw in Gabe Speier, so why stop at just one addition?
Strahm would fit in seamlessly to a Seattle pitching staff that was among the best in baseball last year, and as luck would have it the Mariners currently employ a power hitting right-handed outfielder in Randy Arozarena. The 30-year-old Cuban has put together a terrific seven-year big league career thus far, piling up at least 20 homers and stolen bases in each of the last six seasons.
With only one year of team control remaining and projected to earn a pricey $18.2 million in arbitration, Arozarena’s name has been the topic of conversation in potential offseason trades. For a Phillies team that has no problem spending money, a proven playoff hero like Arozarena couldn’t be a better fit.