Dodgers re-sign reliever Evan Phillips

Evan Phillips is back, like he never even 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 he was non-tendered at the start of the offseason.

Phillips, 31, was always likely to return to the Dodgers, even after he was technically cut loose earlier this winter.

Because the right-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery and not expected to return until midseason, that maneuvering allowed the Dodgers to preserve a space on their crowded 40-man roster during the winter –– and re-sign Phillips this week, when they will be able to start transferring players to the 60-day injured list.

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

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An eight-year veteran who has pitched to a 2.22 ERA since joining the Dodgers in 2021, Phillips made only seven outings last year before going down with Tommy John, costing him the rest of the season.

However, even after Phillips was non-tendered in November, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman reiterated the team’s interest in keeping him with the organization. The $6.5 million salary Phillips ultimately agreed to Wednesday slightly surpasses what he was projected to earn in arbitration had he not been initially released.

The Dodgers did still have to make one corresponding move to clear a 40-man spot for Phillips’ signing. Catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment, just days after being re-claimed by the club after being DFA’d and lost on waivers earlier this winter. The team will be hoping Rortvedt is able to sneak through waivers this time, and stay in the organization as minor-league catching depth.