The Phillies are staring down some tough decisions this offseason with three key players hitting free agency. Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez are all set to test the market, and Philadelphia’s front office knows they can’t keep everyone.
It’s the price of success, really. When you build a roster this talented through smart scouting and aggressive spending, you eventually face the bill.
Most evaluators see this coming down to a choice between Suarez and Schwarber as the priorities. Realmuto’s been valuable, but at his age, the contract he’s seeking might not align with what Philadelphia’s willing to offer.
Here’s where it gets interesting with Suarez. MLB insider Robert Murray thinks the left-hander could end up being one of the winter’s most overpaid players – not because he isn’t good, but because the pitching market’s that hot right now.
“Philadelphia is going to have to make some very difficult decisions in free agency, with players such as Schwarber, JT Realmuto and Suarez among those on expiring contracts. They can’t keep everyone. The guess here is that Schwarber is the priority and at least two of the three players are extended the qualifying offer.
That shouldn’t limit Suarez’s market. Not in the slightest. And if the demand for pitching in recent seasons has been any indication, Suarez should have a hot market and land a very, very lucrative contract in free agency,” Murray wrote.
The numbers back up why teams will be lining up for Suarez. After dealing with some early-season injury issues, he’s been lights-out for Philadelphia.
Over 149.0 innings, he’s posted a 2.84 ERA – the kind of production that gets starting pitchers paid handsomely in today’s market.
What makes this situation tricky for the Phillies is that Suarez represents exactly what every team needs: a reliable left-handed starter who can eat innings and keep runs off the board. That’s premium currency in free agency, especially when you look at how pitchers have been getting paid lately.
The Phillies will likely extend qualifying offers to at least two of their three free agents, which gives them some leverage and potential compensation picks. But with Suarez, that qualifying offer might just be the starting point for what could become a bidding war.
