Phillies give Sánchez new 6-year deal after ripping up original contract
The Philadelphia Phillies restructured star left-hander Cristopher Sánchez's contract, ripping up his original deal to give him a new extension in an unusual move.
Sánchez, who had been under contract through 2028, signed a new six-year extension with the Phillies that kicks in next season. His revised deal, which also includes a club option in 2033, is worth $107 million in guaranteed money, sources told Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
It also includes more than $13 million in performance incentives, sources told MLB reporter Francys Romero.
Sánchez's salaries in the first three seasons of the new deal will be unchanged from his old contract, aside from guaranteeing the $1-million buyouts of old club options in 2028 and '29. He'll then earn $30 million in both 2031 and '32, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The 2033 club option is worth a base salary of $32.5 million, but could increase to as much as $44.5 million through the incentives, a source told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Alternatively, Philadelphia can buy out the club option for $1 million, according to Lauber.
Sánchez's $3-million salary in 2026 will remain unchanged.
"I'm absolutely so proud of being here, and it shows the commitment that this thing happened," Sánchez said via an interpreter, according to Gelb. "They rewarded my work and the way I've been doing the last few years of my work. It's just a great commitment. And I appreciate the team doing this for me."
The 29-year-old, who will start for the Phillies on Opening Day, was the 2025 NL Cy Young runner-up after posting a 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 212 strikeouts over 32 starts. That dominance followed his breakout 2024 campaign that saw him named to the NL All-Star team and earn down-ballot Cy Young support for the first time.
Philadelphia originally acquired Sánchez from the Tampa Bay Rays for Curtis Mead in November 2019. He made his MLB debut two years later.