The Philadelphia Phillies have been making some big changes this offseason, and while Kyle Schwarber is back, a few other players are leaving the team this winter.
While free agents are expected, the Phillies traded away Matt Strahm in an expected, but sad, move. He was beloved by the Phillies fan base, and now he is returning to Kansas City in a trade less than a week before Christmas.
After the trade was made official, Strahm shared a very heartfelt message with the Phillies fan base, his teammates, and those he had impacted during his time in Philadelphia. It's a sad departure for Strahm and the Phillies fanbase, but he was very grateful on his way out.
Matt Strahm sends heartfelt message to fans, Phillies teammates amid trade
"To the Phillies fans," Strahm writes, "I can't begin to express what you've meant to me and my family over the last three year. I came to Philadelphia because of you> The atmosphere, the passion, the expectation to win. There's something truly special about this city and the mentality here. I wanted nothing more than to bring a World Series back to Philly, and I'm sorry I fell short of that goal."
Strahm continued, this time thanking his Phillies teammates: "It was an honor to wear this uniform alongside you and compete every day with a group that truly cared about winning and about each other. Ya'll have not only helped me grow as a player but as a father and husband. I'll miss every single guy in that clubhouse. I've never experienced anything like it."
Thank you! Pic.twitter.com/ncHcmbId7z
— Matt Strahm (@MattStrahm) December 19, 2025
The beloved Phillies left-handed reliever signed with the Phillies back in 2023, right after their World Series run came up just short. In the three seasons since coming to Philadelphia, Strahm was one of the best pitchers for the Phillies.
He made his first All-Star appearance in 2024, when he posted a remarkable 1.87 ERA in 66 games for the Phillies. He took a minor step back in 2025, but he was still dominant with a 2.74 ERA in 66 appearances.
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His debut season with the Phillies in 2023 wasn't as great, with a 3.29 ERA in 56 games, but with Strahm starting 10 games at the start of the year, his 87.1 innings total was the most work he put in for the Phillies in his career.
During the postseason, Strahm posted a 4.66 ERA for the Phillies across 13 appearances over the last three seasons. He had a 0.00 ERA in seven appearances in 2023, but an 18.00 ERA in 2024 before returning to a decent 3.86 ERA in 2025.
The Phillies lefty reliever was one of the Phillies best pitchers in recent years, and he quickly became a fan-favorite among the die-hard Phillies fan base.
But now, he's being traded to the Royals with one final year left on his deal. His heartfelt message to the Phillies fanbase and his teammates is a warm message from a beloved Phillies player as he departs for the Royals.
Strahm praised the Phillies fanbase and the clubhouse and emphasized how grateful he was for his time in Philadelphia. He closed his goodbye message to Philadelphia with: "Thank you for everything, Philly. You'll always be a special part of my journey."
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