Braves’ Huge $35 Million Play for Ex-Dodgers Closer Sets Bar For Relievers

Detailed summary

Phillips, 32, showed flashes of brilliance after returning from rehab in 2026. He made six scoreless appearances in October for Los Angeles, after ending the regular season with a…

The Atlanta Braves on Thursday announced a $35 million, three-year contract for Evan Phillips, a pitcher who has recorded two saves over the last two seasons, and might not be Atlanta's primary closer in 2027.

Not long ago, such a high price for a middle reliever would have seemed outlandish.

Considering the team and the player, the logic behind the contract is reasonable enough. Nonetheless, it sets a high bar for every other free agent relief pitcher — and could set the stage for a signing frenzy prior to MLB's unofficial December 1 deadline.

When the Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires on December 1, the league is expected to lock out players — with no end date in sight. The potential for a long transactions freeze creates an obvious deadline for teams and players who are eager to strike a deal.

The potential for MLB to impose a salary cap in the new CBA might make some teams wary of issuing big-money deals that could force them to shed payroll before the 2028 season begins. Quality relievers — specifically middle relievers — typically command lower salaries than star position players or starting pitchers. Against this backdrop, it's hardly a surprise to see Phillips sign the first eight-figure deal of the offseason, earning $11 million in both 2027 and 2028 and $13 million in 2029 (with 1 percent going to the team’s charitable foundation).

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Phillips was a closer for the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and 2024, recording 42 saves across the two seasons. An elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery diminished his role, however, and might have suppressed his value as a free agent for the first time.

Still, his broader track record explains why Atlanta moved aggressively to bring back its 2015 17th-round draft pick — whom the Braves traded to Baltimore in the 2018 Kevin Gausman deal less than a month…

Phi…

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