Cristopher Sánchez was the runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award last season and will start on Opening Day this week.
According to two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies are World Series-or-bust in 2026. But the Phillies just expanded their window.
On Sunday morning, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported that Philadelphia and ace left-hander Cristopher Sánchez have agreed to a six-year contract, which starts in 2027 and includes a 2033 team option.
"Financial terms were not disclosed, but sources told ESPN that the deal is worth approximately $103 million in new money," Rogers reported. "Sanchez will make $3.5 million in salary for 2026 before the new deal starts next year."
Meanwhile, The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported it as a six-year, $107 million deal.
Regardless, it's a prudent move by the Phillies to secure the 2025 NL Cy Young Award runner-up long-term. Sánchez, 29, led MLB with an 8.0 WAR last season. He posted a 13-5 record with a 2.5 ERA across 202 innings pitched in 32 starts.
Sánchez's 2026 is already off to a hot start. He represented the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic this month and became the first pitcher in WBC history to strike out four batters in one inning, according to MLB. The Dominican Republic ultimately fell to the United States, 2-1, in the semifinal.
“I don't know where the ceiling is,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson recently said, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. “It could be anywhere. This guy, the slider is getting better, and he's using it more, and he can backdoor right-handed hitters. It's a swing-and-miss pitch to left-handers. He’s got the unbelievable changeup, and his command of his fastball, he gets a lot of weak contact. He's just a complete pitcher right now.”
The Phillies have named Sánchez their Opening Day starter, and he will take the mound against veteran All-Star and two-time World Series winner Nathan Eovaldi when Philadelphia hosts the Texas Rangers on Thursday, March 26 (via MLB).