The Philadelphia Phillies are dancing around the painful truth about Ranger Suárez's future. The left-hander won't be re-signed. That became even more clear after Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski's recent comments about the starting rotation next year.
Suárez has been a solid starting pitcher overall with the team. However, considering the Phillies' payroll and their starting rotation depth for 2026, he has been an unlikely candidate to re-sign with for more than a year, particularly since hiring Boras as his agent. Suárez switched agents last offseason, hiring Boras, whose reputation is well established for players lucrative multi-year deals.
The Phillies' acquisition of Jesús Luzardo last winter also gave them another left-handed starter who will remain under contract for another season. This felt like a backup plan in the likelihood that Suárez agrees to a contract in free agency with another organization.
Phillies won't be re-signing Ranger Suárez based on Dave Dombrowski's comments
On a recent Foul Territory podcast, Dombrowski spoke about the payroll challenges the Phillies will face this offseason.
"[Phillies managing partner] John [Middleton] and I know it's a big winter time for us," Dombrowski said. "We've been talking about this for weeks, and I proposed something to him. He's given me an approval on it, so I know where my payroll is, and it's still a very hefty payroll, but I still think it's a challenge, it's going to be hard to sign all of [our free agents] just because there's so many of them."
The three notable free agents are Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Suárez. Due to the Phillies' large payroll, the depth at starting pitching for 2026, and the likelihood of prospect Andrew Painter being added to the starting rotation, Suárez is the least likely to be re-signed.
Dombrowski made that even more clear when he spoke directly to the starting rotation situation for next season, mentioning the pitchers under contract, including Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Luzardo.
"I think we still have a chance to have a really good club because I think we'll bring some of the guys back," Dombrowski said. "We'll have financial wherewithal, and I think anytime you can throw Wheeler ... Sánchez ... Luzardo ... Nola as your top four [in your starting rotation], no matter what happens with Suárez, you're in pretty good shape to move forward."
Zack Wheeler is owed $84 million over the next two years, while Nola is only two years into the seven-year, $172 million deal he agreed to following the 2023 season. Whether the Phillies would have the money available to sign Suárez if they didn't re-sign Nola is a valid debate.
Suárez may or may not get the contract he and Boras are seeking this winter. The 30-year-old may have to settle for a two-year deal with a player option for 2027 and elect to try again next offseason to sign a multi-year contract. Regardless of how his situation plays out, his next deal won't be with the Phillies.