The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Evan Phillips to a one-year contract worth $6.5 million and designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Phillips made seven appearances in 2025, striking out six batters in 5.2 innings without allowing a run before being shut down with Tommy John surgery in late May. It is unclear when Phillips will be able to return to the bullpen, but pitchers typically have a recovery time of 12-18 months before they get back in games.
The 31-year-old joined the Dodgers in 2021 via waiver claim from Tampa Bay and starred in the bullpen, going 15-9 with a 2.22 ERA in 201 games. He has posted a microscopic 0.94 WHIP while striking out 221 batters in 195 innings for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers non-tendered Phillips earlier in the offseason, which made him a free agent. That cleared a spot on their 40-man roster as the reliever has been recovering from surgery.
The Boston Red Sox showed interest in signing Phillips, but Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman also expressed a hope in re-signing him.
Phillips has been in the Majors eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2018), Baltimore Orioles (2018-20), Tampa Bay Rays (2021) and Dodgers (2021-), posting a 16-12 record with 46 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 252 innings.
He was drafted by the Braves in the 17th round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Dodgers DFA Ben Rortvedt
Rortvedt first joined the Dodgers on July 31, 2025, via a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 18 games for Los Angeles, batting .224 with one homer and four RBI while helping the Dodgers’ starters to an MLB-best 2.17 ERA in the month of September.
The Dodgers designated Rortvedt for assignment earlier this offseason, and he spent some time in the Cincinnati Reds organization before being let go. The Dodgers then claimed him back and designated Anthony Banda for assignment.
The Dodgers are hoping to pass him through waivers so they can assign him to the Minor Leagues and keep him in the organization. However, other teams now have a chance to claim Rortvedt again, or they can trade him within seven days.
The Wisconsin native appeared in four playoff games, recording a 1.071 OPS with one double and one RBI. He made his Major League debut in 2023 with the Minnesota Twins and has been part of the New York Yankees (2023), Rays (2024-25) and Dodgers (2025), hitting a combined .190 with nine homers and 52 RBI in 227 games.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Verona High School.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
