The Philadelphia Phillies have had a relatively uneventful spring training. With most of their 26-man Opening Day roster already set—aside from a few roster spots still being contested—there hasn’t been much drama. They’ve also been fortunate in avoiding major injuries.
However, that streak of good luck ended when reliever Matt Strahm disclosed that he’s dealing with a shoulder issue. The Phillies have sidelined the left-hander, and while manager Rob Thomson initially described it as soreness, Strahm later revealed the full extent of the problem. He has an impingement in his left shoulder, which has caused inflammation and a bone bruise. Fortunately, an MRI showed no structural damage, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
Shoulder injury could cost Matt Strahm more than an Opening Day spot
While there isn’t widespread concern at the moment, Matt Strahm’s availability for Opening Day is now in doubt. Starting the season on the injured list isn’t ideal for either Strahm or the Phillies’ bullpen, where the 2024 All-Star plays a crucial role. However, missing the start of the season isn’t the only setback he could face.
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Strahm’s $4.5 million team option for 2026 increases to $7.5 million if he reaches 60 innings this season. That’s not just a $3 million pay difference but also added job security for next year.
“Selfishly, I want to throw 60 innings so I can guarantee myself and my family will be back in Philly next year,” Strahm told Zolecki. “But I understand the business. I also understand this team is built to do great things, so I need to put that before myself.”
A delayed start to the season will make reaching that 60-inning milestone more challenging. Strahm pitched 62 2/3 innings last year, delivering his best major league season. He posted a 1.87 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and accumulated 2.1 fWAR across 66 appearances, narrowly surpassing his 2.0 fWAR from his first season in Philadelphia in 2023.
The most innings Strahm pitched in a single month last season was 12 in May. If he misses a month, he’ll need to maintain that pace for the rest of the season to reach 60 innings. That means he’ll have to be as effective as he was in 2024 to ensure manager Rob Thomson continues to call on him regularly.
Ideally, Strahm will be ready for Opening Day, but if not, the hope is that he’ll only be sidelined for a short time. The Phillies won’t rush him back, and Strahm is taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
“It’s only March,” he told Zolecki. “We have bigger plans for this team than March. It’s something we want to get ahead of and clean up so it’s not an issue later. Let’s just say they had to put a leash on the dog.”
Strahm’s selfless mindset is commendable, but Phillies fans are eager to see him back in the bullpen as soon as possible—performing well enough to secure that $7.5 million payday in 2026.
