Since 2023, no reliever has appeared in more games for the Philadelphia Phillies than Matt Strahm. The veteran southpaw has become a high-leverage specialist who manager Rob Thomson has entrusted to get big outs versus lefties and righties alike.
Before his initial two-year, $15 million deal was up, Strahm signed a contract extension for the 2025 season with a vesting option for 2026. That option has officially been picked up, ensuring that Strahm will be back for the Phillies next season.
Matt Strahm passes physical, guaranteeing return to Phillies' bullpen in 2026
The option, worth $4.5 million, went up by one million for every 10 innings Strahm pitched between 40 and 60 innings. He hit the 60-inning mark in September in the Phillies' division-clinching game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, thus making the option worth $7.5 million.
The final hurdle for Strahm to officially secure the option was to pass a physical, which he did during the Phillies' bye week ahead of the NLDS, per Phillies Nation's Corey Seidman.
It's a great thing that Strahm will be back, as his ability to succeed in any role for the Phillies has made him one of the most valuable pitchers on the team. His Phillies career began as a starting pitcher in 2023 after Ranger Suárez was sidelined with an injury to begin the season. He made 10 starts before spending the rest of the season in the bullpen, pitching to a 3.29 ERA with 5 1/3 perfect innings in the postseason.
If Strahm wasn't already a fan favorite after his first season, his 2024 season certainly cemented him as one. He built upon his 2023 postseason run by continuing to come through under pressure. In 62 2/3 innings, Strahm posted a career-best 1.87 ERA and 0.75 WHIP to earn his first career All-Star selection. He was unable to build upon his lights-out postseason performance from the prior season, however, with four earned runs in two innings against the New York Mets.
Strahm was the Phillies' most used reliever again in 2025, with 62 1/3 innings thrown and an impressive 2.74 ERA and 1.07 WHIP to show for it. He slots in well as a middle reliever or setup man for the postseason bullpen as he looks to improve upon his disappointing playoff showing in 2024. Strahm will be an integral part of the team's bullpen once again in 2026 alongside the likes of Jhoan Duran and Orion Kerkering after hopefully completing a deep postseason run this October.