Former Royals pitcher Matt Strahm is headed back to Kansas City. The Phillies traded the former NL All-Star to Kansas City in a one-for-one deal. Philadelphia received 29-year-old Major League reliever Jonathan Bowlan in exchange for Strahm.

The Royals’ Return

• RP Matt Strahm (70 K, 20 BB, 2.74 ERA over 62.1 IP)

The 2025 campaign was yet another good one for veteran Matt Strahm, who had arguably the three best seasons of his career with the Phillies between 2023 and 2025. Strahm was at one point a starter in 2023 for the Phillies but became an effective late-inning reliever since then.

Strahm posted at least a 10+ K/9 in each of three seasons as a Phillie. The left-hander was a 2024 NL All-Star.

He also finished 51st in the Majors in wOBA (.267) among the 221 relievers who threw in 30+ games last season.

Strahm is one of the rare lefties who can effectively get out both right-handed and left-handed hitters with regularity. Opposing right-handed hitters slashed .196/.265/.320 (.585 OPS) last season off Strahm, compared to .233/.289/.384 (.673 OPS) against same-sided hitters.

Creating a deceptive angle can make a fastball into a dangerous weapon. Strahm has done that in his career, as opposing hitters, particularly right-handers, have struggled with his four-seamer. While Strahm primarily uses his sinker to ram in on lefties, his fastball has ride and plays up. Hence, he had a 30+% Whiff% on the pitch in 2022 and 2023, with slightly lower numbers in 2024 and 2025.

Aside from the fastball, Strahm began to lean more on his slider, a pitch he’ll use against left-handed hitters and righties. And, it induced chases in the middle of the zone, which is why his swing-and-miss map looks like this.

Strahm has one year left on his current deal. He’s due at least $4.5MM and can escalate up to $7.5MM based on innings pitched.

The Phillies’ Return

• RP Jonathan Bowlan (3.86 ERA, 46 K over 44.1 IP)

It took a while for Jonathan Bowlan, a former second-round pick, to establish himself as a Major Leaguer. However, he did that in 2025.

Bowlan, a 29-year-old reliever, struck out 46 over 44.1 IP and walked 17. He had high Chase% (31.4%) and Whiff% (33.7%) metrics. The right-hander was prone to the home run ball (1.2 HR/9), as he surrendered six during the 2025 campaign.

The new Phillie was very good against right-handed hitters last season. Opposing batters slashed .182/.255/.250 (.505 OPS) off Bowlan last season. However, he was much more hittable against lefties. Five of the six home runs he surrendered were off left-handed hitters. In total, his cumulative slash line against lefties was .288/.358/.5757 (.933 OPS).

Bowlan was a former starter in the Minor Leagues. So, it’s not a shock to see him have a diverse pitch arsenal. Two fastballs: a two-seamer that induces ground balls and is mainly used against righties, as well as a four-seamer that had a 43.5% Whiff% last season.

His primary secondary offering is a swing-and-miss slider. A curveball and changeup are also part of his arsenal.

Bowlan has not yet amassed a full year of service time.

Analysis

There were rumors in December that the Phillies were interested in trading Matt Strahm. The Phillies have several left-handers on their roster currently, including Tanner Banks and Jose Alvarado. And while having more lefties isn’t a bad thing, there’s also a finite amount of money that teams can play with in a given year.

While one could consider this a salary dump, Bowlan is a good reliever who can induce swings and misses. His slider did get hit around, as Bowlan hung it down and in on some occasions. However, given how reliever production can vary in a given year, it’s not a bad bet that things can go better in 2026.

As for the Royals, Kansas City got another right-hander earlier in the month when the team acquired Nick Mears, along with Isaac Collins, in the trade that sent Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee. That trade did get the Royals some pieces to play with for 2026. However, it did cost the team a left-hander.

Strahm, as noted above, matches up well against both lefties and righties.

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