Braves Sign Reliever Evan Phillips to 3-Year, $35 Million Contract
The 32-year-old right-hander returns to Atlanta after a 2025 season with the Dodgers that included five scoreless postseason appearances.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Evan Phillips will return to Atlanta, where he signed a three-year contract worth $35 million with the Braves on Wednesday. The right-hander, 32, was drafted by the Braves in 2015 and made his major league debut with the team in 2018 before being traded to Baltimore.
Phillips spent the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, appearing in 31 games. He went 3-2 with a 3.46 earned run average and recorded 33 strikeouts in 26 innings. Phillips returned to the active roster before the All-Star break, proving his recovery from elbow ligament surgery that had ended his 2024 campaign.
The injury kept Phillips off the Dodgers World Series roster in 2024, despite his presence on the championship team. In the 2025 postseason, he made five appearances without allowing a run. His career playoff record stands at 18 1/3 scoreless innings over 17 appearances.
The contract pays Phillips $11 million in each of the next two seasons and $13 million in 2029. The Braves stated in their official announcement that Phillips pledged to donate 1% of his salary to the team's charitable foundation.
Phillips joins a bullpen anchored by All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias, who is also a free agent. The reliever holds 47 career saves. Over nine major league seasons, Phillips is 19-14 with a 3.37 earned run average in 281 games.
The signing addresses the Braves' need for depth in the relief corps. Phillips' experience in high-leverage situations aligns with the team's recent competitive window.
