Evan Phillips Rejoins Dodgers with New Contract

Evan Phillips is back in the fold for the Dodgers, having signed a one-year deal worth $6.5 million on Wednesday. This comes just three months after he was non-tendered at the beginning of the offseason, according to the team’s announcement.

At 31, Phillips had a high chance of returning to the Dodgers, even after being waived earlier in the winter. With the right-hander recovering from Tommy John surgery, he isn’t expected to return until midseason. This signing helps clear up the almost crowded 40-man roster during the winter months, allowing the team to re-sign Phillips and move him to the 60-day disabled list.

In a similar vein, the Dodgers might consider a similar approach for Quique Hernandez, who is still a free agent while recovering from offseason elbow surgery.

Phillips, an eight-year veteran, has consistently performed well, holding a 2.22 ERA since joining the Dodgers in 2021. Last year, however, he only pitched in seven games before undergoing Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the season.

Despite being non-tendered in November, Andrew Friedman, the team’s President of Baseball Operations, expressed continued interest in retaining Phillips. The $6.5 million he agreed to is actually a bit higher than what he would have likely received in arbitration had he not been initially let go.

To accommodate Phillips, the team needed to make room on the 40-man roster. They designated catcher Ben Rohrtvedt for assignment, just days after reacquiring him, hoping he can pass through waivers and stay with the organization as a minor league catcher.