Key Phillies Pitcher Faces Pay Raise, Contract Guarantee With Strong Finish
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Philadelphia Phillies are suddenly facing existential questions about their pitching staff.
After opening the season with the deepest and most effective starting rotation in the sport, the Phillies lost veteran starter Aaron Nola to a rare stint on the injured list. And just as Nola prepared to return to the team, franchise ace Zack Wheeler was placed on the injured list with a blood clot near his shoulder.
The team could now find itself without Wheeler for the rest of the season and it's far from certain that Nola can reestablish himself as a capable playoff starter. As the team faces those obstacles in the rotation, though, dependable reliever Matt Strahm is surging toward some pleasant contract upgrades following an extension he signed last year.
"Strahm's extension with the Phillies contained a $4.5MM club option for the 2026 season," Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. "The southpaw has already pushed that to $5.5MM and will escalate it to $6.5MM when he records two more outs. He's also 10 2/3 innings away from hitting the 60-inning threshold, at which point the price jumps to $7.5MM and becomes guaranteed."
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May...
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 29, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) More
Henderson/Getty
The Phillies chose to extend Strahm even though the team let two high-leverage relievers walk in free agency, with Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez joining new teams after a disappointing playoff run last year. Though he hasn't been as sharp this year as he was in an All-Star season last year, Strahm has been a dependable setup option with a 3.10 ERA in 52 games so far.
His performance has made that extension seem like a relative bargain for the Phillies and even if he somehow does not reach his 60-inning guarantee threshold, the team is likely to keep him.
"Even if Strahm suffers a minor injury that keeps him from getting to 60 frames, the Phillies would probably exercise the option," Franco added. "Strahm is one of (manager) Rob Thomson's more trusted setup arms."
Among a pitching staff that suddenly faces some big questions, that dependability has been key.
More MLB: Cubs' Jed Hoyer Makes Kyle Tucker Admission Amid Awful Slump, Benching
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