The Philadelphia Phillies ended their 2025 season on a disappointing note and are expected to be aggressive this offseason in upgrading their roster. One of their top priorities will be strengthening the pitching staff, which proved inconsistent throughout the year. Fortunately for Philadelphia, the free-agent market is stacked with quality arms — and one insider believes they’ll land the biggest name available.
According to MLB insider Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors, the Phillies are projected to sign right-hander to a massive seven-year, $189 million contract.
“top star may be the most durable pitcher in baseball, but in recent years he’s alternated between dominating and disappointing,” Adams wrote. “After posting a 2.20 ERA and finishing second in Cy Young voting in 2022, he followed with a 4.58 ERA. He bounced back to a 3.47 ERA and a fourth-place Cy finish in 2024, only to slip again to 4.55 this year. If those seasons happened in a different order, he’d probably rank much higher on this list.”
Cease turns 30 in December, and while his recent numbers fluctuate, his upside remains enticing. Adams noted that if he doesn’t receive an offer near $200 million, Cease and agent Scott Boras could pursue a shorter deal with opt-outs to re-enter the market in a couple of years.
For the Phillies, adding Cease would help solidify the rotation — especially with Ranger Suárez entering free agency. Cease went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts last season, but his stuff and durability make him a strong No. 2 option behind Zack Wheeler.
Phillies Have Money to Spend
Philadelphia is expected to be a major player in free agency once again. Despite falling short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs, team president Dave Dombrowski believes the Phillies are close to breaking through.
“We’re close to them,” Dombrowski said. “We battled them, and I think we’re in the same neighborhood. But we didn’t beat them, and we have work to do.”
Dombrowski added that ownership is supportive of spending to improve the roster. “John (Middleton) is very supportive,” he said. “We have a good club with a lot of good players, but you don’t have unlimited money. I don’t think we’ll have a $400 million payroll, but we’ll be open-minded to get better.”
The Phillies already carried the third-highest payroll in baseball last season, topping $293 million.
Padres Extended a Qualifying Offer
If the Phillies sign Cease, they’ll need to forfeit a draft pick since the San Diego Padres extended him a qualifying offer. Cease could accept the one-year, $22.05 million deal, but he’s widely expected to decline it in pursuit of a long-term contract.
If Philadelphia does land him, Cease would join a strong rotation featuring Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, and Cristopher Sánchez, giving the Phillies one of the most formidable starting units in baseball.