For years it seemed like players didn’t want to come to Philadelphia. That has quickly changed over the past few years and it was on full display this offseason with Trea Turner turning down more money from the Padres to sign with the Phillies. But Turner isn’t the only Phillies signing that came here to win.
The Phillies signed lefthanded pitcher Matt Strahm to a two-year, $15 million contract last week as well. Strahm obviously isn’t as well-known as Turner, nor is he as big of an addition, but the southpaw may quickly become a fan favorite given his personality.
Strahm went 4-4 and had a 3.83 ERA in 44.2 innings last year for the Red Sox. He picked up four saves and struck out 52 batters with 17 walks. In his seven-year career, Strahm has a 3.81 ERA and 325 strikeouts in 304.2 innings.
Strahm joined WEEI’s Rob Bradford on the Audacy Original Podcast “Baseball Isn’t Boring” and talked about his desire to win, the magical atmosphere in Philadelphia, and much more.
“To be in free agency, obviously, you want to maximize this window you have to earn money in this game and do all that. So you want to maximize that. But the utmost important thing to me is contending,” Strahm said (5:40 in player above). “Yeah, everyone will roll their eyes at me when I say I’m not playing it for my bank account but I want a ring on my hand more than I want to see how much money I can get in my bank account. From the bottom of my heart, that’s what it is.”
Strahm has only reached the postseason once in his career in 2020 with the Padres. They were swept by the Dodgers in the NLDS after getting past the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round. The southpaw wants to get back to the playoffs and that was his top priority this offseason.
“Going into free agency it was like you could look across the board, where the league’s at and what teams are doing, over 50% of them weren’t even on my board because of what they’re doing. Offers could’ve came in and it just didn’t matter,” he said. “I wanted to be on a team that’s contending and if anybody watched the World Series you saw what Philadelphia was like. That place seemed magical and I can only imagine it in person.”
There were some reports during the season the Strahm wanted to become a starter. Sure, he’s interested in starting, but he’s also interested in being a middle reliever, setup man, and closer. He just wants to pitch – and win.
“Yeah, I think I can start. But again, it goes back to winning,” Strahm said. “Do I see myself on a rebuilding team trying to be a two or three starter right now and on the bubble for the playoffs? I don’t want to do that. I want to be where I am the most valuable and my history has shown I’m more valuable in the bullpen. To be on a contender and to be a big piece of a winning team, that’s what I want to be, so whatever they see me as. If they want me to open on Monday and sit in the bullpen Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then do it again Friday, I’ll do it.”
Strahm also stressed the importance of getting a multi-year deal in free agency. He loved his time in Boston but he wanted the security of at least a two or three year contract. There were teams that offered one-year deals, but Strahm kindly declined those. It came down to the Phillies and one other team, he said, and he ultimately decided on Philadelphia.
The veteran left-hander doesn’t know much about the Phillies firsthand, but watching the postseason run from his couch gave Strahm a good sense of the vibes in Philadelphia.
“The only guy I know with the Phillies personally is Marsh and he was only with them for half a year last year so I don’t really know how they do things, but again, looking from afar you can tell when a team has ‘it’ so to speak,” Strahm said. “The chemistry and how they all mold together.
“That being said, myself knowing Brandon Marsh and then just to see how he interacts with the team through strictly just television is all I’m talking about because that’s all I’ve been able to see of this team. You just see that their chemistry is there, they’re genuine dudes, you get a feel for it and when you’re in this game long enough you know what to look for when you watch the game on TV of what’s genuine or whatnot.”
Strahm only knows Marsh personally, but there was another player that helped make his decision easy. You may know him as the best catcher in baseball.
“Also, I think what made my decision that much more easy was J.T. Realmuto,” he said. “I’ve been spoiled in my career and I couldn’t go away from that when baseball gods are handing me an offer to a team with a catcher of this caliber. … I was offered a gift, I took the gift. I think to speak more on why I chose it it wouldn’t be so much more than pitching philosophy, just what they have as a team and again, I’m going to throw to J.T. Realmuto … and they’re going to win, look at that lineup.”
Something tells me that Strahm will fit right in in Philadelphia.
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