Philadelphia Phillies trade outfielder Jake Cave to Colorado Rockies, give LHP Matt Strahm contract extension

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- With just days to go until Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies made multiple moves on Sunday by parting ways with outfielder Jake Cave and extending the contract of left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm. 

Cave, who joined the Phillies after being claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles before the 2023 season, has been traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations, the team said.

According to the Phillies, the 31-year-old hit .212/.272/.348 in 65 games for Philadelphia last year, and made 38 plate appearances this spring.

Cave was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft by the New York Yankees and spent parts of six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, from 2018 to 2022.

Phillies extend Strahm

Before shipping Cave to Colorado, the Phillies extended Strahm's contract through the 2025 season with a club/vesting option for 2026, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced. 

Strahm's deal is worth $7.5 million for the 2025 season. He also has a $7.5 million salary this year in the final season of a $15 million, two-year contract. He would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series. His 2026 option could become guaranteed.

Strahm, 32, pitched as a starter and reliever for the Phillies in the 2023 season, his first season in Philadelphia.

In 56 appearances, Strahm went 9-5 with two saves and had a 3.29 ERA. He also posted a 30.8% strikeout rate, which was his highest mark since the 2016 season when he was with the Kansas City Royals.

Strahm's 5.42 strikeout-to-walk-ratio in relief ranked second among all National League relievers in 2023. He also pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings over seven postseason games and got a save in the final game of the NL Division Series against Atlanta.

Strahm is a part of a Phillies bullpen that's ranked No. 1 in the MLB, according to MLB.com.

Right-handers Andrew Bellatti and José Ruiz were reassigned to minor league camp.

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