In a swap of hurlers, the Royals acquired left-hander Matt Strahm from the Phillies, who received righty Jonathan Bowlan in return.
Strahm, 34, flourished during his three years with the Phillies, posting a 2.71 ERA in 188 games and making the NL All-Star team in 2024. He went 2-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 66 games in ’25, striking out 70 and walking 20 in 62 1/3 innings. His first two seasons in the Majors came in 2016-17 with the Royals, who selected him in the 21st round of the 2012 Draft. Strahm is entering the final year of his contract.
Bowlan, 29, pitched in 34 games for Kansas City in 2025, logging a 3.86 ERA and holding right-handed hitters to a .182 average. Powered by a strong sinker, he produced a 49.1 percent ground-ball rate in ’25. Bowlan pitched in 24 games for Triple-A Omaha, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 36 innings and limiting opponents to a .178 average.
