While most of us were busy staring at our phones trying to figure out the Eagles news in free agency, the Phillies blindsided us with the great news that they were extending Jesus Luzardo with a fantastic 5/$135m extension. He is still only 28 years old. Objectively, this is great news. Let’s break it down…
The Deal
This is an extension, so the deal doesn’t start until next season. If that means you want to call it a 6/$146m deal instead, that’s fine with me. Either way, the deal takes Luzardo through his age 33 season. Yes, that means this is for essentially his entire prime with no fluff on the end. Considering the premiums the Phillies had to pay for Aaron Nola, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner that will take them well into their 30s, this is a steal. If Luzardo is still firing at the end of the deal, there an option for another year at $32.5m.
The Phillies did great here compared to other pitchers as well. The total value of the contract is 12th in baseball and will drop further down the list as soon as Freddy Peralta and Tarik Skubal sign their next contracts. The annual value is even better at 14th in baseball, an even $27m over the life of the extension. That ranking puts him just behind former Phillies target Garrett Crochet and just in front of former teammate Ranger Suarez. I mention them because Luzardo was essentially the alternative to both. When the Phillies failed to reel in Crochet from the White Sox via trade, they pivoted to trading with the Marlins. Then during this round of free agency, it was essentially a choice between a future with Ranger or a future with Luzardo. Other than both being lefties with injury histories, they are completely different types of pitchers. the power pitching Luzardo was the choice and the two will now be compared through the life of their deals.
The Phillies Rotation
This deal settles the Phillies rotation for years to come. Ace Cristopher Sanchez is only 29 and is already locked up for the next 5 seasons on an astoundingly team friendly deal. This means the pair will be the #1 and #2 until 2030 at least. Joining them on that 5 year run will be Aaron Nola. His 7/$172m deal has 5 years remaining, also running through 2030. Granted, we don’t feel nearly as good about that one, but there is one silver lining. For as bad as we feel about Nola already being 33 with 5 years remaining, Luzardo will be 33 when his deal is up. That’s how good this move was (or how bad the Nola deal was depending on the current fullness of your glass). Joining those three will hopefully be Andrew Painter. The untouchable prospect has yet to start his service time clock meaning he has 6 full years of team control ahead of him. Yes, there is a world where the Phillies have 4 starters locked up for the next 5 years. That’s nuts.
Joining them will be Zack Wheeler for this year and next. Wheels recently opened up about the possibility of continuing to play after his contract expires, so who knows how long the Phillies will have their other, OTHER ace. Barring any trades, recent first round pick Gage Wood could be ready to step in as soon as Wheeler calls it a career.
We can complain about the Phillies hitting all we want, but this pitching staff will keep them in the playoff hunt for the foreseeable future.
The Trade
It is hard not to look back on the trade the brought Luzardo to the Phillies with anything but happiness. On December 22, 2024, the Phillies traded prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd to Miami and haven’t looked back. Caba is currently 7th in the Marlins system and though he is still only 19, looks to be an all glove no bat prospect. Boyd is not ranked in the Marlins top 30. Regardless of how either turns out, keeping Luzardo for the next 6 years makes the trade more than worth it.
Outside of a couple start stretch where he got bombed for tipping his pitches, Luzardo was nothing short of spectacular. He pitched deep into games, showed a great presence during the playoffs, and seemed to thrive in the highly competitive atmosphere that is not only Philadelphia but a star-studded rotation and lineup. Quite simply, he belonged.
Philly Front Office 
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