After just one year with the Philadelphia Phillies, Jesús Luzardo proved why he belongs atop the starting rotation. Luckily, he wants to stay put.
Until Cristopher Sánchez's emergence, many fans agreed that after Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola the rotation was a question mark after question mark. That was until Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and the front office began investing in a top-tier pitching unit. Sánchez was not the only star to emerge in the team's starting rotation when needed most in 2025.
Despite some mid-season hiccups with some pitch-tipping issues, Luzardo's first season in a Phillies uniform was extremely successful. It went better than anyone expected, including the young southpaw, who the Phillies acquired last winter from the Miami Marlins.
The 28-year-old lefty finished seventh in Cy Young voting with a 15-7 record, a 3.92 ERA, and 216 strikeouts, which ranked second in the National League. He proved not just to the front office but also to the fans that he can handle shining as the team's No. 2 or No. 3 starter, assuming the departed Ranger Suárez's role.
Jesús Luzardo hopes to be with the Phillies 'for a long time' while contract extension rumors swirl
Luzardo recently avoided salary arbitration for the 2026 season by agreeing to a one-year, $11 million contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility. Perhaps a contract extension could be on the table, depending on the price.
Luzardo is expected to hit the free agent pool after 2026, but according to MLB's Paul Casella, it sounds like the lefty is open to returning.
"I'd obviously love to be a Phillie for a long time," Luzardo said last month, per Casella. "I had a great time last year. I really love the organization and the clubhouse."
Making it seem as though even if he were to have another Cy Young-worthy year, he would hope to stay with the team and coaching staff that helped him elevate his game to this next level.
"I haven't had any conversations with them about that," Luzardo said about a contract extension, per Casella. "But in terms of how much I love Philly, I had a great time."
Phillies fans certainly hope that Luzardo loves Philly enough to sign long-term.