The Philadelphia Phillies could be tempted to shake things up after managing only two playoff wins over the past two seasons, but a major roster overhaul seems unlikely. Most of their core stars — Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola — are already under long-term contracts, and their key free agents, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, both appear likely to return.
If Philadelphia does part ways with a notable player this offseason, left-handed starter Ranger Suárez appears to be the most likely candidate. “Suárez might just be the odd man out because the Phillies want to prioritize other places on the roster,” wrote Matt Gelb of The Athletic. “But the emergence of two lefties, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, could help offset the loss if Suárez departs.”
Given that the Phillies already have two young left-handers ready to step in, re-signing Suárez seems increasingly unlikely. The team could instead use the saved salary to secure a long-term extension for Luzardo. “If the Phillies cannot re-sign Suárez, they could devote more attention to an extension for Luzardo, who is under club control through next season,” Gelb added. “He throws harder, is two years younger, and pitched more innings in 2025 than Suárez ever has in a single season.”
There’s also strong internal support for keeping Luzardo around. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently praised the 27-year-old and suggested the organization would like to retain him. According to Tim Kelly of On Pattison, a potential four-year, $70 million extension could cover Luzardo’s final arbitration season and keep him in Philadelphia long-term. If that projection holds true, allowing Suárez to walk might be the move that ensures Luzardo becomes a fixture in the Phillies’ rotation for years to come.