The Phillies are dealing with some mammoth free-agent selections this winter, however they apparently have made up their thoughts about beginning pitcher Ranger Suarez.
Philadelphia has “made it clear they don’t anticipate to be bidding” for the 2024 All-Star on the open market, in accordance with a report in The Athletic.
Suarez completed 12-8 for the second consecutive season this 12 months, and the 30-year-old lefty may command a nine-figure contract after posting a 3.20 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 157 1/3 innings over 26 begins.
With ace Zack Wheeler not anticipated to be prepared by Opening Day after present process surgical procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome in September, the Phillies at the moment have a rotation consisting of Cristopher Sanchez, Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, Taijuan Walker and prospect Andrew Painter.
They might additionally add one other back-end starter this winter if Suarez indicators elsewhere.
“I can’t say we wouldn’t,” group president Dave Dombrowski advised reporters on the GM conferences in Las Vegas. “However once more, it’s not our highest precedence… It’s important to watch out. You at all times must search for beginning pitching depth.
“That doesn’t essentially imply high of the market, however the place does that slot in? Since you by no means have sufficient beginning pitching…However we don’t have a number of beginning pitching depth, in order that’s one thing we have to be cognizant of.”
The Phillies additionally met earlier this week with the representatives for free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, who completed second in NL MVP voting after setting profession highs with 56 residence runs and 132 RBIs in 2025.
