Phils acquire lefty Kyle Backhus in trade with D-backs originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Just hours after trading Matt Strahm to the Royals, Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office made another move.
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The club announced it acquired left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Minor League outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu.
Calling the 27-year-old a direct replacement for Strahm would overstate expectations, but Backhus did show flashes during his rookie season in 2025. Across 32 appearances, he posted a 4.62 ERA over 25 1/3 innings while recording 10 holds.
What stands out most is the look. Backhus throws from an unorthodox three-quarter arm slot, giving the Phillies bullpen a different angle from the left side. His extension is particularly notable.
Defined by Baseball Savant as “the distance, in feet, a pitcher releases the ball from the mound,” Backhus’ 7.2-foot release ranks in the top four percent of the league, paired with a 9-degree arm angle.
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He is not a power arm. His sinker averaged 91 mph in 2025, placing it in the bottom nine percent of the league. Still, he limited hard contact, grading well above average in both barrel rate and hard-hit percentage.
He was also effective against left-handed hitters. He held them to a .139 average and a .503 OPS, and according to the Phillies’ press release, that opponents batting average ranked fifth among the 91 left-handed relievers who faced at least 40 left-handed batters.
Backhus now becomes the 38th player on the Phillies’ 40-man roster and carries three Minor League options.
Owusu-Asiedu, 22, was Philadelphia’s ninth-round pick in 2023 and is coming off his best professional season. Between Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore in 2025, he posted a .752 OPS.
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The 6-foot-4, 230-pound outfielder showed improved plate discipline with a .366 on-base percentage, and his speed is one of his tools — he stole 33 bases in 38 attempts.
A second trade Friday adds another bullpen option to the mix as the Phillies continue adding relief depth and competition heading into Spring Training.
