The Phillies required Ranger Suárez to be a stopper. He delivered.
The lefty struck out six in 6 2/3 innings, holding the dangerous Orioles lineup to one run on Friday. After some bullpen heroics, a rare extra-inning rain delay, and big hits from Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm, the Phillies won 5-3 in 11 innings at Camden Yards.
It was the Phillies’ most dramatic win of the season, as they remain 47-22 despite missing three of their greatest position players in Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Brandon Marsh.
Without Suárez’s performance, we probably wouldn’t be able to watch an instant classic. He is only the second starting pitcher this season, and the first since Alec Marsh on April 2, to hold Baltimore to one earned run in at least 6 2/3 innings worked. He leads the majors in wins with ten and is second in ERA at 1.77. Suárez received a standing ovation from a large crowd of Phillies fans in Baltimore as he left the mound in the seventh inning.
His style of pitching is appealing. He broke out in 2021, excelling in every role a pitcher could play, won the hearts of the city during the 2022 postseason, and is currently the sport’s top starting in 2024. His fun demeanour and calm presence on the pitch have made him a fan favourite.
In an era of spin rates, maximum effort, and innings limits, he is a throwback. He depends on getting ahead of batters, hitting corners, and producing soft ground ball outs. He can also generate some vicious swing-and-misses with his breaking pitches.
Great outings are stacking up. In business words, he is becoming more expensive.
Suárez’s last season eligible for arbitration is in 2025. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sánchez are under team control until 2027. Taijuan Walker’s contract goes through 2026, while the Phillies are hopeful Andrew Painter, who is recuperating from Tommy John surgery, can join the big league rotation in 2025.
Even though Wheeler, Nola, and Walker have signed huge contracts, the Phillies still want to make place for Suárez. Dave Dombrowski was recently asked about the club’s interest in a potential Suárez deal. He restated the team’s policy of not discussing contract negotiations in public, but had this to say.
“Of course, you would love to have Ranger Suarez in your organization for years to come,” Dombrowski told Phillies Nation ahead of Friday’s game against the Orioles. “We normally don’t talk contract extensions during the season because it can be a distraction. We would absolutely like to keep Ranger with us for a long time.
It will be a massive tale to follow for the next year and a half. Wheeler’s annual compensation will increase from $23.6 million in 2024 to $42 million from 2025 to 2027. Nola is under contract for just under $25 million until 2031, while Walker is signed for $18 million per season through 2026. Kyle Schwarber and Realmuto are both free agents after the 2025 season.
There is a lot of money invested across the roster, and it’s understandable to ask how the Phillies will handle these decisions in the future. If Suárez remains healthy and pitches like a No. 1 until the end of next season, he will be worth at least $100 million.
The Phillies, on the other hand, have demonstrated throughout the years that they are ready to pay whatever it takes to keep players they like and who fit into their plans, as evidenced by recent transactions involving Wheeler, Nola, and Matt Strahm.
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