The Philadelphia Phillies still have several decisions to make as the 2025 season approaches.
Their biggest offseason move so far came just before Christmas, when they traded for Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins. Luzardo strengthens a rotation that can compete with the best teams in baseball on any given day.
However, the Luzardo acquisition also opens up another possibility: trading left-hander Ranger Suárez, who is coming off an All-Star campaign in 2024.
Suárez is entering his final year of team control, with a projected salary of $11.3 million, according to Spotrac. While that’s a reasonable price for an All-Star pitcher, the Phillies may question whether Suárez can replicate his 2024 performance.
Jovan Alford of FanSided recently predicted that Suárez could be traded this season, either before Opening Day or at the trade deadline, to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency.
“After acquiring Jesús Luzardo in a trade from the Miami Marlins last month, the Phillies could move on from Suárez before the start of the 2025 season or at the trade deadline,” Alford wrote.
“The Phillies have a good problem with their surplus of starting pitching, but that could make Suárez the odd man out. Adding to the complexity, Suárez is represented by Scott Boras, which likely means he’ll be seeking a big payday.”
Suárez’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. He posted a stellar 2.76 ERA before the All-Star break (at one point dipping below 2.00) but saw that balloon to 5.65 in the second half. Observers noted diminished velocity at times, with his fastball occasionally failing to reach 90 mph. He also missed nearly a month on the injured list due to lower back soreness.
Ultimately, whether Suárez stays or goes depends on the Phillies’ internal evaluation. If they believe his second-half struggles were more about injury than regression, they may hold onto him. But if they think his best days are behind him, Alford’s prediction might come true.
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