by What could Suarez hiring Boras mean for his future? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez has hired Scott Boras as his agent, The Boras Corporation announced Monday on Instagram.
Suarez is entering a contract year and the decision to join Boras could be a signal that he intends to play out the season and hit free agency. Suarez likely sat back this offseason and watched what the pitchers in the ranks below and above him did and set his sights high.
However, an agent change doesn’t necessarily mean Suarez and the Phillies won’t be able to reach a contract extension before free agency. It could mean a few other things. He may be unhappy with how the extension talks have gone so far and believes Boras has a better chance of moving them forward. Suarez may also feel that Boras is best equipped to discuss his future with potentially interested trading partners. Finally, Suárez has been the subject of trade rumors.
Despite his poor second half, Suarez is on track to make a lot of money on his next deal. The two richest starting pitcher contracts signed so far this offseason were Max Fried to the Yankees for $218 million over eight years and Blake Snell to the Dodgers for $182 million over five years. Corbin Burnes will almost certainly exceed both numbers.
Suarez isn’t in that class — perhaps he would be if he maintained his fantastic first half of 2024 — but even the pitchers closer to his caliber have signed big contracts. These five in particular provide an early template:
Nate Eovaldi: 3 years, $75 million (Rangers)
Luis Severino: 3 years, $67 million (A)
Yusei Kikuchi: 3 years, $63 million (Angels)
Frankie Montas: 2 years, $34 million (Mets)
Matthew Boyd: 2 years, $29 million (Cubs)
Eovaldi will be four years older than Suarez when he receives free agency. Severino, Kikuchi and Montas weren’t as consistent from year to year as Suarez and Boyd couldn’t stay healthy. Still, three of them signed three-year deals for $21 million to $25 million, and the other two got off to a good start on two-year deals.
Sean Manaea, Nick Pivetta and Jack Flaherty are three other pitchers whose free agency Suarez will be watching closely this winter.
If you, as Suárez, look at the contracts signed last month, there’s no reason why an extension should start at less than $25 million per year, and you’re probably setting the target at five years. That doesn’t mean he’s definitely not capable of getting that contract a year from now, but the price of pitching suggests so.
The risk of Suarez or any other player not extending his contract is injury. Dozens of pitchers suffer long-term elbow and shoulder injuries each season that make or break their careers. For some, it’s the difference between a nine-figure payday and a one- or two-year prove-it deal at age 30.
Suarez struggled with injury in 2024. He missed the All-Star Game because of back strain and then missed a month from late July to late August because of back pain. His speed declined as the season progressed, averaging less than 90 mph in three of his last nine starts. Suarez’s success depends more on location and movement than speed, but there is a difference between what a pitcher can get away with at 92-93 and 89-90.
The Phillies weren’t looking for the most expensive starters like Burnes, Fried or Snell, but they have been linked to 23-year-old Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki and several members of the Mariners rotation this offseason. Seattle is a team with a lot of pitching but no offense. According to a Seattle Times report, the Phillies asked the M’s for Logan Gilbert or George Kirby – two borderline aces – in exchange for Alec Bohm. Both of these pitchers have significantly more trade value than Bohm, but Luis Castillo could fit.
Castillo has a $68.25 million contract over the next three seasons with a $25 million vesting option in 2028. Given the cost of pitching in free agency, that’s an attractive number, basically the same offer as inferior weapons at Severino and Kikuchi. Castillo took a step back from his lofty standard in 2024, but even in a down year still had a 3.64 ERA with 175 strikeouts in as many innings, delivering a similar season to Suarez.
The 32-year-old right-hander would make a lot of sense for the Phillies as an impactful addition to the rotation, as protection against losing Suarez in the future, or as an alternative to Suarez if they are offered an interesting trade package for him sooner. The Phillies’ primary need isn’t starting pitching – improving the outfield offense is – but the Mariners remain one of the most logical trade fits for Bohm, and that’s their strength.
