The Philadelphia Phillies had already spent some serious money to retain players from their 2025 team, but they weren't done just yet after their surprise extension for left-hander Jesús Luzardo. The Peruvian native was expected to become a free agent after the 2026 season, but the Phillies struck a deal by keeping Luzardo in Philadelphia through the 2031 season, with a club option for 2032. T
The agreed-upon deal was for five years and $135 million ($27 million annually). The contract not only keeps Luzardo as a potential ace through his age-34 season, but it also paves the way for the Phillies future free agency pursuits.
The Phillies still realistically don't know how many seasons of Zack Wheeler they have left. He's still an ace when he's on the mound, but the thought of retirement has fragmented his desire to play past his current contract, which is set to expire after the 2027 season. He'll also be 36 this season. Right-hander Taijuan Walker will also be gone come November, leaving Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo and rookie Andrew Painter as the rotation makeup after 2027.
The big bats the Phillies inquired about in free agency this past winter simply won't be there next year. The starting pitching market will instead be the hot commodity. The names at the top end of that market would be very enticing for any staff, especially one still hungry for their first World Series in 18 years. Tarik Skubal, Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, and Michael King are just some of the names that will be free agents in one year's time. Pitching is always in high demand, but the plethora of talent makes the addition more feasible for the Phillies.
Jesús Luzardo extension helps with Phillies' future financial flexibility
The Phillies looked as if they were going to give Luzardo the same treatment as the newest member of the Boston Red Sox, Ranger Suárez. The Phillies let Suárez walk into free agency and eventually ended up moving on from the eight-year veteran. The Phillies didn't exactly have room for Suárez, but Luzardo was a much different case for the future of the franchise. In 2025, he finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting with a 3.92 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 183 2/3 innings.
The strength of the Phillies recent World Series window has been their starting pitching, and now they know Luzardo won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
The expiring CBA agreement could also change how much flexibility the Phillies have by next year, but as of now their expected payroll sits at around $312 million, with roughly $82 million scheduled to come off the books after 2026, per Spotrac. If the Phillies can't invest that into the lineup due to a lack of impact players, spending that on the rotation would be best.
What the Phillies have prided themselves on is starting pitching, the most consistent aspect that has driven their postseason hopes. They have easily carried the title of one of the best rotations in baseball and need to continue that to remain among the top teams of the National League. Luzardo isn't going anywhere, and it's time to think about building a rotation around him.