Philllies Make Unprecedented Move With $107M Extension

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez

The Philadelphia Phillies opened up the checkbook once again for a starter in their rotation. 

After signing Jesús Luzardo to a five-year extension worth $135 million two weeks ago, the Phillies are offering the current ace of their pitching staff, Cristopher Sánchez, a similarly long contract extension.

Matt Gelb of The Athletic tweeted that the Phillies had agreed with Sánchez on a six-year contract extension with a $107 million guarantee. It will begin in 2027 and run through 2032 with a club option for 2033. The Phillies have chosen to do right by Sánchez, even with a team-friendly deal still in place.

Unprecedented Move

In baseball, if a player is signed under a team-friendly deal, especially for at least the next three years, it is almost unheard of for that team to restructure that deal, but that is exactly what the Phillies have done for Cristopher Sánchez. 

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Scott Lauber tweeted that this deal is unprecedented for an MLB team.

“Sanchez was under contract through 2028 and guaranteed $20 million on his existing team-friendly extension, plus club options for 2029 ($15M) and 2030 ($16M). In baseball, tearing up a contract and restructuring is nearly unprecedented,” Lauber wrote. “Not sure I’ve ever seen it.”

The 2025 second-place NL Cy Young finisher can really break the bank in his club option seasons beginning in 2029, as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com details.

“Cristopher Sanchez’s new deal essentially has the Phillies picking up his old club options in 2029 and 2030, plus adding $30 million per season in 2031 and 2032 and a 2033 club option worth $44.5 million,” Zolecki wrote. 

Last season, Sánchez proved he could be the ace of a staff, especially after Zack Wheeler was forced to miss the last few months of the season with a blood clot in his throwing shoulder. 

The Phillies won six of his final eight starts following Wheeler’s injury, and Sánchez put up a 2.63 ERA with 55 strikeouts, eight walks, and two home runs in those eight starts. Sánchez put the team on his back and carried the Phillies to first place in the NL East. 

Ace of the Staff

It was no surprise when Phillies manager Rob Thomson named Cristopher Sánchez the Opening Day starter after a stellar season last year. Sánchez is still honored and prepared. He will get the ball for the Phillies’ first game of the season on March 26 against the Texas Rangers.

Ty Daubert of Phillies Nation, in his March 20 article, wrote about Thomson presenting the news to Sánchez. 

“He’s earned it,” Thomson said, “and he was pretty fired up about it.”

Sánchez last season went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA, 212 strikeouts, and an 8.0 WAR, which was good enough for second in the MLB behind Aaron Judge, according to ESPN.com. 

Sánchez is fired up for the opportunity to the guy on Opening Day. 

“It’s something to look forward to, and it’s something to see that’s one of the goals that I’ve accomplished in my career,” Sánchez said. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, just to be an Opening Day starter. So I’m looking forward to it, and I’m super excited about it.”

The Phillies have continuously shown belief in Sánchez, and his new contract is just an extension of that.

Chad Gelfand Chad Gelfand is a journalist covering the NFL with focus on the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers for Heavy.com. Gelfand has over six years of writing experience.

Gelfand previously covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Last Word On Sports. He also has experience writing in the worlds of entertainment and wrestling.

Gelfand was an Entertainment writer for the List.com, and a contributor for Fansided’s wrestling website Daily DDT and The Wrestling Estate. Gelfand has also appeared multiple times as a guest on POST Wrestling’s “Bushby and Thompson’s Wrestling Adventure” podcast. More about Chad Gelfand