The Philadelphia Phillies are set for a financial windfall after the 2026 season, with several players' contracts expiring and totaling around $82 million. This influx of cash could lead to some savvy moves by the front office, who have shown a tendency to retain key players through extensions.
While it's likely that many of these departing players will seek new deals in free agency, there are a few candidates who might be worth considering for in-season extensions. One such player is Jesús Luzardo, who is entering his final year of arbitration at just 28 years old. The Phillies may want to keep him on hand if he can regain his form after an inconsistent 2025 season.
Another prospect worth extending is Jhoan Duran, a left-handed reliever who has emerged as one of the team's lockdown late-inning options. His age and prime years make him an attractive target for a preemptive extension, which would prevent the Phillies from having to pay top dollar in free agency.
However, Edmundo Sosa may prove to be a tougher sell. The utilityman is likely to attract significant interest on the open market, and it's unclear whether the Phillies want to commit to him as a starter or keep him in a more limited role.
The team will also face decisions about several other players, including Alec Bohm, Adolis García, and José Alvarado. While all three have been solid contributors, their time with the Phillies may be coming to an end. The prospect of replacing them with young upstarts from the farm or on the open market could be a more attractive option.
The Phillies' recent track record in extending players like Matt Strahm and Zack Wheeler, as well as signing Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto to long-term deals, suggests that they value retaining key contributors over letting them walk in free agency. Whether this approach will pay off for the team's financial future remains to be seen.
As teams continue to navigate the complexities of the modern sports market, bold moves like extending a player with a high ceiling could have significant rewards down the line. Will the Phillies take a chance on one of their young stars? Only time will tell.
While it's likely that many of these departing players will seek new deals in free agency, there are a few candidates who might be worth considering for in-season extensions. One such player is Jesús Luzardo, who is entering his final year of arbitration at just 28 years old. The Phillies may want to keep him on hand if he can regain his form after an inconsistent 2025 season.
Another prospect worth extending is Jhoan Duran, a left-handed reliever who has emerged as one of the team's lockdown late-inning options. His age and prime years make him an attractive target for a preemptive extension, which would prevent the Phillies from having to pay top dollar in free agency.
However, Edmundo Sosa may prove to be a tougher sell. The utilityman is likely to attract significant interest on the open market, and it's unclear whether the Phillies want to commit to him as a starter or keep him in a more limited role.
The team will also face decisions about several other players, including Alec Bohm, Adolis García, and José Alvarado. While all three have been solid contributors, their time with the Phillies may be coming to an end. The prospect of replacing them with young upstarts from the farm or on the open market could be a more attractive option.
The Phillies' recent track record in extending players like Matt Strahm and Zack Wheeler, as well as signing Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto to long-term deals, suggests that they value retaining key contributors over letting them walk in free agency. Whether this approach will pay off for the team's financial future remains to be seen.
As teams continue to navigate the complexities of the modern sports market, bold moves like extending a player with a high ceiling could have significant rewards down the line. Will the Phillies take a chance on one of their young stars? Only time will tell.
. But Edmundo Sosa might be tricky - not sure if they want to commit to him full-time 
. I mean Phillies have been smart with signings in the past, like Schwarber and Realmuto, so maybe they're just waiting for the right moment to strike 
.
. With all these contracts expiring, it's gonna be interesting to see who they choose to keep and who they let go 
. I mean, Jesús Luzardo is definitely a possibility for an extension - he was on fire last season before slumping a bit in 2025 
. And Jhoan Duran is like the ultimate closer - gotta keep him locked up 
.
. It's only natural that they'd want to keep their own stars in Philly 
. Who do you think is gonna be the first player they'll extend? 
️. And Jhoan Duran is like a lockdown closer, no question 
. But Edmundo Sosa might be a tough sell because of how hot he's gonna be in free agency 
. They signed Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto to long-term deals, so it's cool to see them do that again with other guys like Luzardo and Duran.
. I'm not sure what they're gonna do, but I trust the front office to make some smart moves 
. They might just pull off a surprise signing that blows everyone away 
!
. Anyway, imo the Phillies are gonna pull off some crazy trades or signings this offseason. They gotta make some noise to stay competitive with those other playoff teams. Jesús Luzardo could be the real deal, but Edmundo Sosa is like that one uncle who always shows up to family gatherings... you love him, but he's not really reliable 
. And what's up with Alec Bohm? I thought he was a stud player 
.
i think it's a good idea to extend luzardo and duran, they've got some potential and it'll save them $$$ next year 
and still got a ton of good baseball left in them. And the Phillies would be crazy not to lock up Sosa too, but like you said he's gonna get interest from all over 
. But seriously, if they wanna keep their core young players on board it's better to do it now than risk losing them in free agency later