Dodgers sign reliever Evan Phillips

Evan Phillips is back, like he never left.

The veteran reliever signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday, the team announced, rejoining the organization three months after going undrafted at the start of the offseason.

The 31-year-old Phillips was always going to return to the Dodgers, even after he was technically let go earlier this winter.

With the right-hander recovering from Tommy John surgery and not expected to return until midseason, that maneuvering allowed the Dodgers to hold onto a spot on their crowded 40-man roster over the winter –– and re-sign Phillips this week, when they can begin transferring players to the 60-day injured list.

It’s likely the Dodgers could do the same with Kiké Hernández, who has been stuck on the free agent market this winter while recovering from offseason elbow surgery.

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Phillips is an eight-year veteran who has pitched a 2.22 ERA since joining the Dodgers in 2021. Last year, Phillips made just seven appearances before going down with Tommy John, which cost him the rest of the season.

But even after Phillips went undrafted in November, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman reiterated the team’s interest in keeping him with the organization. The $6.5 million salary that Phillips ultimately agreed to on Wednesday exceeds something the arbitration said he would have earned had he not been released initially.

The Dodgers had to make one more corresponding move to clear a 40-man spot for Phillips’ signing. Catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment just days after being reclaimed by the club following a DFA and loss on waivers earlier this winter. The team hopes Rortvedt can sneak through waivers this time and remain in the organization as a minor leaguer.