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Phillies Give Luzardo Extension Per Reports

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Ben Rosen | Last updated Mar 9, 2026 8:18 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have given starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo a five-year $135 million dollar contract extension first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. Luzardo has been the top extension candidate for the Phillies all offseason long. Now the Phillies will avoid having to try an re-sign the left-handed pitcher this offseason. Additionally with a potential lockout looming after the 2026 season it is important that the Phillies got this resolved now. Luzardo is now under contract with the Phillies through the 2031 season at least. According to Robert Murray of FanSided the contract contains a club option for the 2032 season. The contract goes into effect starting with the 2027 season. Luzardo will make $11 million dollars this season, his last of arbitration.

Luzardo has emerged as a reliable starting pitcher with the Phillies. After a December 2024 trade from the Miami Marlins, Luzardo had his best major league season in 2025. Last season Luzardo had a 15-7 record with a 3.92 ERA and 2.90 FIP along with 216 strikeouts in 32 starts. Meanwhile in the postseason Luzardo recorded a 0-2 record with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.44 FIP along with eight strikeouts in two appearances. The 15 wins and 216 strikeouts Luzardo recorded in 2025 are career bests. To add to that Luzardo recorded a career high 183 2/3 innings pitched last year. The 2025 season also saw Luzardo match his career best total in starts from the 2023 season. Maintaining this durability will be important for Luzardo with this contract extension.

Phillies Hand Luzardo A Well Earned Contract Extension

Effects On Starting Rotation

With this extension the Phillies have a core group of starting pitchers that includes Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter who are all under contract or team control through at least the 2028 season. If the club options on the Sánchez contract are exercised it extends the range to through the 2030 season. Zack Wheeler is under contract through the 2027 season as well. While the Phillies could add some pitching depth their rotation is set for the next few years. Keeping everyone healthy will be important for the Phillies to have continued success with this starting pitching group. With Wheeler not being ready to start the season Sánchez and Luzardo will be leading the rotation.

Other Offseason Decisions And Possible Other Deals

This extension was part of the Phillies calculation in letting Ranger Suárez walk in free agency. Keeping Suárez and Luzardo long term was never going to be feasible for the Phillies. It also never made sense to trade for Luzardo and then let him walk after two seasons while re-signing Suárez. To add to that Luzardo is two years younger than Suárez. Jhoan Duran is likely next in line for a contract extension. Similar to Luzardo the Phillies traded major prospects to acquire Duran. Additionally Duran is under team control through the 2027 season. Of the Phillies in line to be free agents after the 2026 season extending Luzardo needed to be addressed. Outside of this there probably will not be others among that group extended at this time.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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