The Philadelphia Phillies gave their fans something to be thankful for this holiday season by acquiring Miami Marlins hurler Jesús Luzardo via trade. That gives the club a surplus of pitchers for their starting rotation. Could left-hander Ranger Suárez be on the chopping block?
Suárez earned his first career All-Star selection in 2024. He's been used exclusively as a starter since the start of 2022, and this past campaign was his most successful. The southpaw posted a 12-8 record with a 3.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings.
While it seems as if Taijuan Walker is the most likely candidate to get cut from the 2025 rotation mix, FanSided's Edward Eng thinks Suárez also won't be playing for the Phillies next season.
"However, recent rumors this offseason have suggested that Suárez could be on the trade block," Eng wrote. "After all, he showed some durability issues during the second half of 2024 that ultimately affected his effectiveness. On top of that, the fact the Phillies extended Cristopher Sánchez but not Suárez clearly indicated that he might not be in their long-term plans.
"Added to the fact that Suárez has recently changed his agent to the infamous Scott Boras, who is known for negotiating some of MLB's richest contracts, that more or less guarantees he won't be signing an extension any time soon in the coming year."
The 2025 campaign will be Suárez's last before reaching free agency. While he's estimated to earn $11.3 million next year, Spotrac is projecting his market value for a long-term deal at five years and $94.7 million.
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