Phillies, Strahm agree to contract extension

PHILADELPHIA -- Matt Strahm will continue to be whatever pitcher the Phillies need him to be through at least 2025.

The club announced Sunday morning that they signed Strahm to a contract extension through 2025 with a vesting/club option for 2026. Strahm, who is in the final year of a two-year, $15 million deal, will make $7.5 million in 2025. The club option is $4.5 million. It automatically vests at $7.5 million if he pitches 60 innings in 2025.

“Philly just fits my personality,” Strahm said. “It’s a grindy, gritty city and I feel like I match that pretty well. It’s the City of Brotherly Love. Tell me when I’m doing bad, I ain’t afraid to hear it.”

Strahm, 32, has been a valuable piece to the Phillies’ pitching staff because of his flexibility and durability in multiple roles, going 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA and two saves in 56 appearances (10 starts) in his first season with the team. He started last year in the rotation because Ranger Suárez opened the year on the injured list. Strahm returned to the bullpen in early May, where he pitched multiple innings effectively. Later in the season he pitched in more high-leverage late-inning situations.

He pitched the ninth inning in Game 4 of the NLDS, when the Phillies clinched the best-of-five series with a 3-1 victory over the Braves.

The Phillies see Strahm pitching almost exclusively out of the bullpen this season because they have better starting pitching depth in the organization.

“He’s so valuable,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I think it’s going to be a little easier to handle this year. We had to build him up, then had to back him down when he came out of the rotation. That can be tough on a guy. Knock on wood, it’ll probably be a little easier to handle, manage his innings.”

Asked if he thought about finishing the year with the Phillies and trying for a bigger payday in free agency, Strahm said no.

Why not?

“When’s it enough?” Strahm said.

Strahm said he told his representatives to initiate talks with the Phillies because he did not want to worry about protecting his arm throughout the season with free agency on the horizon. Now, he said, he can just pitch.

“Just let me do me,” he said. “I want to throw the ball about as much as I can. That’s about it. That’s what makes our bullpen great. We don’t have guys worrying about roles.”