The Boston Red Sox bullpen last season was one of the best in baseball. Aroldis Chapman rediscovered his All-Star form, Garrett Whitlock was able to stay healthy and dominated, and the unit as a whole had the second-best ERA in MLB.
While it was a pleasant surprise for Red Sox fans to feel comfortable when the game turned to the pen — they hadn't had a bullpen ERA in the top half of MLB since 2021 — that doesn't mean they should be sitting on their laurels and expecting the same performances in 2026.
The team seems to agree, as Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reported that they're interested in former Dodgers closer Evan Phillips (subscription required). Between 2022 and 2023, Phillips showed himself to be one of the premier relievers in baseball. He had a 1.59 ERA in 124 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 143 batters with a 0.79 WHIP across those two seasons. His ERA was the lowest of any of the 200 relievers with more than 70 innings pitched across those two seasons. The righty has also never allowed a run in over 15 postseason innings.
2024 was a regression for Phillips, where he posted a 3.62 ERA in 54 innings. 2025 seemed like he might have gotten back on track, but forearm discomfort in early May resulted in Tommy John surgery in early June. He won't be ready to pitch until at least mid-2026. The Dodgers non-tendered the 31-year-old before his final year of arbitration.
The Red Sox inquired with free agent reliever Evan Phillips, according to @timbhealey.
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) December 15, 2025
Phillips, non-tendered by the Dodgers, is coming off Tommy John and is not expected to pitch in games until the second half of the season. He is seeking a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/xNlrJ713jz
While most pitchers who get TJ before they hit free agency end up signing two-year deals — the first year being mostly rehab-focused and the second being performance-focused — Phillips is reportedly looking for a one-year contract to try and hit the open market again next offseason.
Do the Red Sox have the cushion to sign another pitcher who won't be available until mid-season?
The Red Sox have a recent track record of signing pitchers in a similar boat as Phillips to mixed results. Before 2022, the Red Sox signed James Paxton, who didn't pitch with the club until 2023. In 2024, they signed Liam Hendriks, and he didn't pitch until 2025. Boston also currently has a player that fits this mold in Patrick Sandoval, who missed all of 2025 rehabbing from TJ and is expected to pitch in 2026.
Phillips has the potential to be a major boost to an already very good Red Sox bullpen. Signings like this are high-risk, high-reward moves, though. It's not always a guarantee that a pitcher returning from Tommy John is the same as before they got it. While some players come back better and stronger, others struggle to find their form. Teams are also paying a player to rehab for most of (if not all of) a season, which can cause some financial strain. The player also holds a 40-man spot during the offseason when the IL is not a thing, which makes it harder to make additions.
Phillips has shown in the past that he can be a major difference maker in the back of a bullpen, but the Sox already have a full 40-man roster, and having to DFA someone to make room for a player who won't pitch until at least mid-season may not be worth it. They also already have Tanner Houck on the 40-man, who will miss all of 2026 rehabbing from TJ.
It could be a major risk for a team that is claiming to be in a financial bind already, with other bigger upgrades needed, especially with Phillips only wanting a one-year deal. But if the team finds the risk worth it, he could ensure a lockdown 7th-9th innings should he return to form.