Veteran Lefty Matt Strahm Returns to Royals in Trade from Phillies

Veteran left-handed reliever Matt Strahm, 34, is returning to the Kansas City Royals in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm, a former All-Star in 2024 with a 1.87 ERA, posted a 2.74 ERA across 66 appearances in 2025. He is entering the final year of his $7.5 million contract and is expected to help set up closer Carlos Estevez. Over his last three seasons with Philadelphia, he maintained a 2.71 ERA with a 30.5% strikeout rate. He can become a free agent after the 2026 season.