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Who Are Phillies' Options to Replace Injured Matt Strahm?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Ostrowski | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 9:00 PM ET

With just over a week to go before Opening Day, the Phillies have not decided on reliever Matt Strahm. The All-Star setup man has been dealing with shoulder discomfort in his throwing arm this spring and hasn't pitched in a game since March 5th.

While Strahm appears to be trending towards a return soon, his Opening Day status remains unknown. He's someone that Philly can't afford to have miss extended time, so if they play it safe and place him on the IL to start the year, who takes his spot on the active roster?

Here are three likely candidates for the temporary bullpen job:

Tyler Phillips

A native of the greater Philadelphia region, Phillips is most likely to assume the job for now. He showed some prowess against major league pitching last July, with a 1.80 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 25 innings of work. It wasn't until August that he regressed massively and was demoted back to AAA.

The key with Phillips is that he is out of minor-league options. He's only 27 years old and still has time to develop into either a back-of-the-rotation arm or a bullpen piece. His spring has been rough, but with Philly's top pitching prospects at least a few months away from their projected MLB debuts, he could be worth the benefit of one last opportunity before being exposed to waivers.

Nick Vespi

Vespi checks two boxes for the Phils: he has MLB experience, having spent parts of the last three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, and he, like Strahm, is a left-handed pitcher. There are still two other lefties in the 'pen - José Alvarado and Tanner Banks - but Vespi would prevent Philly from having to shuffle duties too much.

Opposing left-handed batters have hit just .167 against him over the past two campaigns, so he could handle a specialist role for the time being. Vespi, who has a 1.80 ERA this spring, would have to be added to the 40-man roster before being promoted.

Michael Mercado

Much like Phillips, Mercado got his first taste of MLB last season. Unlike him, it didn't go well. Upon returning to the minors, Mercado switched over to bullpen duties and racked up 30 Ks in 25 innings. It's probably best if the Phils don't rush him back to the show - he's only about to be 26 and has a pair of minor league options remaining - but this could also be seen as a low-stress, high-upside opportunity for him. Orion Kerkering took a late 2023 promotion and turned it into a phenomenal rookie campaign... could Mercado similarly catch fire?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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