Braves' $35 million Evan Phillips signing sends warning to Pirates about bullpen plans

The Pittsburgh Pirates weren't involved in the Atlanta Braves' latest free-agent signing, but general manager Ben Cherington should be paying close attention. The price of upgrading his bullpen might have just gotten considerably steeper.

On Thursday, the Braves agreed to a three-year, $35 million contract with former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Evan Phillips, making one of the first significant bullpen investments of the offseason. The 32-year-old right-hander will earn $11 million in both 2027 and 2028 before making $13 million in 2029.

Phillips certainly has the résumé to justify a substantial contract. He emerged as one of baseball's most reliable late-inning relievers during his time with Los Angeles, but his recent injury history makes Atlanta's investment particularly noteworthy.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025, Phillips didn't make his 2026 debut until July 7. He finished the season with a 3.46 ERA and 33 strikeouts across just 26 innings, although he posted an encouraging 1.46 ERA over his final 14 appearances.

Still, the Braves just guaranteed $35 million to a reliever entering his age-32 season who has thrown fewer than 32 major league innings over the past two years. That's an aggressive investment, and it could have significant implications for a Pirates team that needs bullpen reinforcements.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of Phillips' contract is how it compares to preseason market projections. MLB Trade Rumors predicted a two-year, $24 million deal for the veteran right-hander. Atlanta's agreement actually carries a slightly lower average annual value, but the Braves were willing to guarantee a third year and another $11 million overall.

The Pirates will presumably be looking for a left-handed reliever to fill the void left by Gregory Soto, and they may now find themselves paying more than anticipated for alternatives. Former Milwaukee Brewers left-hander JoJo Romero, for example, was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive a two-year, $13 million contract. That would represent a relatively affordable way for Pittsburgh to replace Soto without sacrificing significant resources.

If other teams follow Atlanta's lead by offering additional guaranteed years to established relievers, however, even those more modest opportunities could become harder to secure.

Ben Cherington can't afford to repeat Pirates' biggest bullpen mistake from 2026

The frustrating part is that Pittsburgh already knows what happens when its bullpen isn't properly equipped to handle a full season.

The Pirates entered the 2026 trade deadline with a 4.34 bullpen ERA, forcing Cherington to make several midseason additions. Those moves ultimately paid off, with Mason Montgomery emerging as a dominant closer and Luke Weaver providing another reliable late-inning option.

Pittsburgh's bullpen posted a 3.49 ERA after the deadline, but by then, the early-season damage had already complicated the club's postseason aspirations. Cherington deserves credit for successfully rebuilding that unit, but he can't afford to assume the job is finished.

Montgomery and Weaver provide a promising foundation, while Lake Bachar, Yohan Ramírez and others offer additional depth. But Soto's departure would leave an obvious opening for another experienced left-hander, particularly one capable of navigating high-leverage situations. And there are only so many affordable, proven relievers available.

The financial implications extend beyond the bullpen, too. Pittsburgh is already facing increased arbitration costs, existing contractual commitments and uncertainty surrounding Brandon Lowe's free agency.

Nobody is suggesting that the Pirates should have matched Atlanta's $35 million commitment to Phillips, especially with more pressing offensive needs elsewhere on the roster. But they still need to invest meaningfully in bullpen depth.

The potential MLB lockout only adds urgency. With the current collective bargaining agreement expiring December 1, teams could have fewer than three weeks to complete transactions before an anticipated freeze. Atlanta clearly isn't waiting around to find out what happens.

For Cherington, the Phillips signing should serve as a reminder that the market isn't going to accommodate Pittsburgh's preferred spending habits simply because the Pirates have other needs. Allowing the bullpen to become another offseason afterthought would risk wasting the progress they made in 2026.

And if Thursday's signing is any indication, waiting for the perfect bargain could end up being the most expensive mistake Cherington makes.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow