Hello and welcome to what I believe is the final deadline for the Winter Meetings in just over a few weeks. The Dodgers had to decide who to offer contracts to from among the five remaining arbitration-eligible players.
They started the offseason with 9 of those players, but Tony Gonolin was waived, Michael Grove was downright, Ben Rortvedt was claimed by the Reds, and Alex VesiaThe $3.55 million option had already been exercised, leaving only five decisions.
While they were tendering contracts Brusdar Graterol, Anthony Banda, Alex BellAnd Brock Stewartthey made the difficult decision not to register Eva Philips. Moreover, while Nick Frasso was not eligible for arbitration, nor was he tendered after finishing the year on the 60-day IL.
Reliever Evan Phillips was non-tendered by Dodgers and is now a free agent, source said @TheAthletic. Underwent Tommy John operation June 4.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 21, 2025
Dodgers will also be undrafted RHP Nick Frasso, a source tells The Athletic. Ended last season on the 60-day IL.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) November 21, 2025
Since becoming a Dodger in 2021, Evan Phillips has been a revelation in the pen, posting a 2.22 ERA/2.77 FIP over 195 innings, making him the team’s primary closer for more than two years. Based on production, he would have no problem returning for a team with the resources like the Dodgers.
An injury suffered in the 2024 playoffs that kept him out of that year’s World Series ultimately limited him to pitching more than 5.2 innings in 2025 before going down with Tommy John operation at the end of May. Since it’s possible he won’t be back at all in 2026, he was a non-tender candidate due to the high salary.
Evan Phillips wipes away Adolis Garcia on three spaces to end the threat. Goodness. pic.twitter.com/Lqla7d2Y3r
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 20, 2025
He seemed like an ideal candidate for a two-year extension deal that wouldn’t leave him feeling rushed in his final year of arbitration in free agency, but they couldn’t get anything done before the deadline. Despite that, Andrew Friedman said they want to bring him back.
“We had a number of back and forth conversations with Evan and his agent,” Friedman said via text message. “It’s a challenge as he comes out of surgery, so he will need some time to draw after being thrown off the mound, when his rehabilitation allows. Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect him taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”
My hope? They’re waiting until the 60 day IL goes into effect to sign him so they can use him, just like they did/do with vets like Enrique Hernández, Miguel RojasAnd Clayton Kershaw.
As for Nick Frasso, it’s just a shame he was never able to fully get his stuff back after yet another injury that cost him his 2024 season (shoulder and hip surgery). Acquired in a trade in 2022 as a high-risk, high-reward prospect, he appeared to be on the rise in 2023 before the year-ending injury. When he returned, his strikeout stuff was off, and he posted a 5.49 ERA in 77 mostly relief innings, striking out just 68 while walking 42 after a total of 183 strikeouts in 147 innings in 2022-2023.
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Small news: the Dodgers signed a lefty reliever Anthony Kelly to a deal.
According to the most recent @BaseballAmerica minor league transaction log and his player page, #Evaders recently signed lefty reliever Antoine Kelly to a minor league deal.
Intriguing arm that we saw a lot of from the other side when he was with Albuquerque and Round Rock. pic.twitter.com/bMAt6dcYgG
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) November 20, 2025
In his age-25 season this year, Kelly had a 5.63 ERA at AAA (if it was Albuquerque) in 38.1 innings, striking out 41 and walking 26. He’s struggled mightily in AAA in his career, and it may be somewhat telling that no one seems to have even cut him in 2025, but this from 2024 seems to highlight what the Dodgers like about it and why he was available.
Antoine Kelly had a strange (bad) May. Only 6ip over 8 outings and an ugly 3pm ERA. Even stranger was a game when his FB was 88-94. Tonight he was again at 96 T 98, more than 1.1 scoreless. 24 pitches: 23 consecutive FBs, then finally an SL on his 24th and final pitch. No idea, friends. pic.twitter.com/xkhNEYajh8
— Lukewarm participation (@TepidP) June 9, 2024
#Dodgers #nontender #Nick #Frasso #Evan #Phillips #hope #bring #sign #lefty #reliever #Antoine #Kelly #Dodgers #Digest