The Philadelphia Phillies, envisioning a future in which Zack Wheeler is no longer part of their rotation, moved to lock up another stalwart from their staff for the long term.
Left-hander Jesús Luzardo and the Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $135 million contract extension, a person familiar with the agreement confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.
Luzardo, 28, was eligible for free agency after the 2026 season, and was coming off perhaps the finest campaign of his career, winning 15 games and posting a 3.92 ERA across a career-high 183 ⅔ innings. While he might have garnered more than a $27 million average annual value on the free agent market, it actually puts him in line with Yankees ace Max Fried, whose eight-year, $218 million deal is worth $27.25 million per year.
Wheeler, the Cy Young Award runner-up in 2024, has indicated he’ll retire after his three-year, $142 million deal expires after the 2027 season. The club already retained right-hander Aaron Nola on a $172 million deal signed after the 2023 season, and Luzardo’s extension ensures a decent base from which to work.
The club also hopes top prospect Andrew Painter solidifies the back of the rotation and grows into mid- to frontline starter. Now, he’ll have both Nola and Luzardo to slot behind in the future.
Luzardo will make $11 million this season in his final year of arbitration-eligibility before his extension kicks in.
Jesus Luzardo stats
2025 (Philadelphia): 15-7 record, 183.2 IP, 216 SO, 3.92 ERA
2024 (Miami): 3-6, 66.2 IP, 58 SO, 5.00 ERA
2023 (Miami): 10-10, 178.2 IP, 208 SO, 3.58 ERA
2022 (Miami): 4-7, 100.1 IP, 120 SO, 3.32 ERA
2021 (Oakland/Miami): 6-9, 95.1 IP, 98 SO, 6.61 ERA
2020 (Oakland): 3-2, 59.0 IP, 59 SO, 4.12 ERA
2019 (Oakland): 0-0, 12.0 IP, 16 SO, 1.50 ERA