There won’t be any arbitration fireworks for the Phillies this winter. No messy hearings. No awkward testimony. No lawyers debating the value of a solid second baseman or a reliable left-handed starter. Just agreements all around.
Faced with Friday’s deadline to exchange salary figures or head to arbitration, the Phillies went six-for-six, reaching one-year deals with pitchers Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo, third baseman Alec Bohm, second baseman Bryson Stott, outfielder Brandon Marsh, and infielder Edmundo Sosa. That’s everyone eligible, folks.
The Numbers Game
Here’s how the dollars shook out, according to various sources: Suárez will earn $8.8 million in his final year of arbitration. Bohm, who bested the Phillies in arbitration last year, saw his salary jump to $7.7 million. Luzardo came in at $6.225 million, while Stott, Marsh, and Sosa agreed to $3.2 million, $3 million, and $3 million, respectively. The Phillies also settled earlier this winter with reliever José Ruiz ($1.225 million) and backup catcher Garrett Stubbs ($950,000).
With these deals in place, the Phillies’ luxury-tax payroll now projects to a staggering $306 million — a franchise record and well over the highest tax threshold of $301 million. For those keeping score at home, that means a $47 million luxury-tax bill. And yes, you could buy a few ace pitchers for that kind of cash.
Ranger’s Last Ride?
For Suárez, this is his swan song in arbitration. The 29-year-old lefty is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season, and he’s come a long way from his days as an unheralded prospect out of Venezuela. Suárez has been a linchpin in the Phillies’ rotation, and his ability to handle the big stage — hello, 2022 postseason heroics — has made him a fan favorite.
Bohm’s Big Leap
Remember when Alec Bohm’s arbitration case was the talk of the town last year? He won that hearing and bumped his salary to $4 million. This year, no hearing was necessary. Instead, Bohm’s $7.7 million deal signals that he’s more than just a solid piece of the lineup — he’s a cornerstone. The Phillies reportedly explored trading Bohm this offseason to mix up their lineup, but manager Rob Thomson quickly put those rumors to bed. “This guy is a really good player,” Thomson said last month. “We’re not shopping him. But because he’s a good player, there’s a whole lot of interest in him from other teams.”
Now, Bohm looks poised to take another step forward, possibly even as the cleanup hitter behind Bryce Harper. Not bad for a guy who was booed mercilessly after his rookie struggles in 2021.
New Faces and First-Timers
Jesús Luzardo, acquired from Miami in December, agreed to $6.225 million in his second arbitration year. The lefty brings a power arm and big-game potential to a rotation that needed reinforcements. Meanwhile, Stott and Marsh avoided arbitration for the first time in their young careers, both locking in $3 million deals. They’re part of the Phillies’ young core and aren’t eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season. For a team trying to contend now while building for the future, that’s a big win.
Looking Ahead
With arbitration in the rearview mirror, the Phillies’ focus shifts to spring training, where expectations are sky-high. Their payroll underscores their commitment to winning, but it also raises questions about sustainability in the long run. Can this team deliver on the promise of another deep postseason run? For now, though, the Phillies can take solace in avoiding arbitration drama. It’s one less thing to worry about in what promises to be an eventful 2025.
And hey, no arbitration hearings mean no one has to sit in a room debating whether a player’s batting average is worth an extra million bucks. That’s a win for everybody.
