Trending Now - Luzardo Signs Contract Extension With Phillies, Values Stability

WHO:

Jesús Luzardo, 28, left-handed pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies

Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Phillies

John Middleton, owner of the Phillies

Rob Thomson, manager of the Phillies

Caleb Cotham, pitching coach for the Phillies

Brodie Van Wagenen and Roger Tomas, Luzardo’s agents

Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Andrew Painter, and Ranger Suarez, teammates and players associated with the Phillies

WHAT:

Luzardo signed a five-year contract extension with the Phillies worth $135 million

The contract includes a $32.5 million team option for 2032

Luzardo went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts during the 2025 season

He was tied for second in the National League with 216 strikeouts

Luzardo finished seventh in NL Cy Young Award voting

Luzardo agreed to an $11 million one-year contract in January 2026 to avoid arbitration

WHERE:

The press conference took place at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida

Luzardo was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Miami Marlins on December 22, 2024

WHEN:

The contract extension was announced on March 10th, 2026

Luzardo was drafted by the Washington Nationals in June 2016

Luzardo was traded to the Oakland Athletics in July 2017

Luzardo was traded to the Miami Marlins in July 2021

Luzardo's Tommy John surgery occurred during his senior year of high school

Luzardo had a strained left forearm in 2022 that sidelined him for three months

Luzardo missed most of the 2024 season due to back and left elbow issues

WHY:

Luzardo cited the desire for stability in his baseball career as a reason for signing the extension

The Phillies aimed to secure Luzardo before he became a free agent to avoid competition with other teams

Dombrowski emphasized the importance of having a strong pitching rotation for the team's future success

HOW:

Preliminary discussions for the contract extension began at the Winter Meetings

Luzardo's agents maintained a positive tone during negotiations, which facilitated the agreement

The Phillies' medical staff assessed Luzardo's health risks, leading to comfort in finalizing the deal

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 21:08 UTC)

In a significant move for the Philadelphia Phillies, left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo has signed a five-year contract extension worth $135 million, announced today at a press conference in Clearwater, Florida. Luzardo, who had an impressive 2025 season with a record of 15 wins to 7 losses and 216 strikeouts, expressed his desire for stability in his career as a key reason for the extension, which includes a team option for 2032. The Phillies, aiming to strengthen their pitching rotation, began preliminary discussions during the Winter Meetings and successfully navigated negotiations with Luzardo's agents to finalize the deal.