Braves sign reliever Evan Phillips to three-year, $35 million contract

The Atlanta Braves signed right-handed reliever Evan Phillips, 32, to a three-year, $35 million contract, the team announced Thursday. Phillips, who spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will earn $11 million in each of the first two years and $13 million in 2029, with 1 percent of his salary going to the Atlanta Braves Foundation. The deal fills the late-game role left open by free agent closer Raisel Iglesias, though a reunion with Iglesias remains possible. Phillips was originally drafted by the Braves in 2015 and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the deal that sent Kevin Gausman to Atlanta. The Braves also have the option to stretch out right-hander Didier Fuentes as a starter during spring training, with Phillips taking over the bullpen role Fuentes would vacate.

Left-leaning coverage from The New York Times, headlined "Braves sign Evan Phillips to a three-year deal, bolstering their bullpen," treats the move as a roster upgrade, detailing the salary schedule, Foundation donation and Fuentes option. Right-leaning coverage from the New York Post, headlined "Dodgers suffer first big offseason loss as former closer gets giant contract from Braves," frames it as a Dodgers setback and stresses Phillips's 44 saves from 2022 to 2024, his elbow injury and Tommy John surgery, and a 2.33 ERA over his last 24 appearances. Both agree on the contract's size, length and Thursday announcement, but the Times emphasizes the Braves' gain while the Post emphasizes the Dodgers' loss. Alternative outlets ESPN and Yahoo Sports offer shorter reports, with Yahoo noting that the start of the season is uncertain.