Phillies news and rumors 6/24: Club reportedly ‘working on’ a Ranger Suárez extension

Ranger Suárez leads MLB with a 1.75 ERA this year. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Three down, one to go.

With Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez all receiving long-term contracts from the Phillies in the last calendar year, the club is reportedly working on a deal for the last remaining extension candidate. The ink still drying on the last of those three deals, Jim Bowden of CBS Sports and The Athletic said recently on MLB Network Radio he’s heard the team has been “working on” a deal for Suárez.

Suárez is set to become a free agent after 2025. (Club control ends for Wheeler after the 2027 season; Sánchez and Nola both after 2030). Suárez’s extension, if it happens, will surely exceed the Sánchez one in terms of overall dollars. Even though he’s a year older, Suárez has been even better than his rotation-mate this year, and he has a longer track record.

Phillies Nation’s Destiny Lugardo spoke with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi earlier this month about the possibility of extending Suárez. It won’t be cheap, but it’s a move the Phillies may be willing to make if Suárez keeps pitching like he has. The Phillies’ starting rotation has been nothing short of spectacular this year. Perhaps the idea of keeping it all together for as long as possible will push them to pay up a fourth time.

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