Ace lefty Sánchez, Phillies agree to new 6-year deal through 2032

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Cristopher Sánchez is one of baseball’s best pitchers, and the Phillies will pay him like one in the future.

The Phillies announced on Sunday morning that they have signed Sánchez to a new six-year contract that guarantees him $107 million through 2032 with a 2033 club option worth $44.5 million, according to a source. Essentially, the Phillies restructured a club-friendly, four-year $22.5 million contract extension, maintaining the salaries in the original deal through 2030, then added $30 million in salary in 2031 and 2032.

The Phillies could have kept the deal if they wanted.

They chose to reward Sánchez instead.

Sánchez last season finished second for NL Cy Young behind Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, going 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 starts. Sánchez posted an MLB-best 8.0 WAR among pitchers, according to Baseball Reference. Over the past three seasons, when Sánchez has blossomed into a star, his combined 13.5 WAR is tied with Skenes for third in baseball behind Zack Wheeler (15.3) and Tarik Skubal (14.8).

In four days, Sánchez will be the Phillies’ Opening Day starter at Citizens Bank Park.

It has been a remarkable journey for Sánchez, who signed with the Rays as an amateur free agent in 2013. He was then traded to the Phillies for prospect Curtis Mead in November 2019, essentially because Tampa Bay felt it didn’t have a spot for Sánchez on its 40-man roster.

Sánchez bounced around the next couple years, posting a 5.63 ERA in 15 appearances with the Phillies in 2022.

But Sánchez started to take off in 2023, posting a 3.44 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts).