The Philadelphia Phillies made a big splash today in the form of a Jesus Luzardo extension, signing the 27-year-old left hander to a contract that will keep him in a Phillies uniform through the 2031 season. The extension continues a trend of the Phillies locking up their top pitchers, which bodes especially well for their budding ace, left hander Cristopher Sanchez.
Once considered by MLB Pipeline as the top left-handed pitching prospect in the league, Luzardo had an inconsistent first six seasons in the majors as he struggled with injuries and control despite promising strikeout numbers. A breakout 2023 season demonstrated proof of concept, however, and after being acquired by the Phillies prior to the 2025 season, Luzardo rediscovered his breakout form to the tune of a 3.92 ERA in a career-high 183.2 innings pitched, with a 3.18 ERA over his final 10 starts of the season.
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His performance was enough to earn him a seventh-place finish in National League Cy Young voting and evidently gave the Phillies the confidence to extend him on a five year, $135 million deal that begins after the 2026 season (h/t Jeff Passan, ESPN).
Cristopher Sanchez had a similarly unconventional path to sustained success on the mound; Sanchez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for just $65,000 in 2013 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, and he languished in the Rays minor league system for six seasons before being dealt to the Phillies for infielder Curtis Mead in 2019.
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Sanchez reached the majors for the Phillies in 2021 and 2022 but only briefly, posting a combined 5.47 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched across the two seasons. An excellent 2024 firmly established Sanchez as a reliable starter, earning him in a four year, $22.5 million extension, and after receiving it he proceeded to battle Paul Skenes for the National League Cy Young award in 2025. Sanchez finished the 2025 season with 8 bWAR, a 2.50 ERA, and 212 strikeouts in 202 innings pitched, making him one of just three pitchers to eclipse 200 innings on the season.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61)© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
(© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
While Sanchez may not actually hit free agency until the 2031 offseason (the Phillies hold team options over him for the 2029 and 2030 seasons), the 29-year-old is transforming into one of the premier arms in the sport and the Luzardo extension is yet another indication that the Phillies will pay top-dollar to retain their top starting pitchers.
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Perhaps ill-advised in hindsight, the Phillies refused to let the once-dependable Aaron Nola walk away in the 2023 offseason and extended him on a seven-year, $172 million deal. They also extended ace Zack Wheeler just prior to the 2024 season, setting a new record for average annual value on an extension with a three-year, $126 million deal. They then let left hander Ranger Suarez walk this offseason, likely because his ceiling is limited by his low velocity, and paid the hard-throwing Luzardo to stay in a Phillies uniform instead.
If Cristopher Sanchez continues to pitch like a Cy Young candidate, the question should not be one of whether he’ll get another extension with the Phillies before he hits free agency, but rather how much money it will take to extend him when the time comes. The Phillies have shown time and time again that if they believe in a pitcher, they will not let him hit free agency.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.