Phillies Mailbag: Luzardo’s Deal, Nori, RH Bat

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions on the air.

Why wouldn't the Phillies just sign Ranger Suarez instead of Jesus Luzardo? It's basically the same deal.
~Rick

The Phillies announced officially this morning that they have signed pitcher Jesus Luzardo to a five-year, $135 million contract extension, which begins in 2027.  The team held a press conference in Clearwater this morning.  The move gives the Phillies some starting rotation certainty for years to come.

The deal looked a lot like the deal that the Boston Red Sox gave to former Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez.  Suarez received five years and $130 million.  So why Luzardo over Suarez?

The first thing to note is that Luzardo is two years younger than Suarez.  So even though those five years kick in a year later, Luzardo will be younger when the deal is done than when Suarez's ends the year before.

Part of it is timing.  Luzardo is earning just $11 million in 2026.  That low salaries has helped the Phillies perhaps make some other moves.  The payroll is projected to be $311 million or higher in 2026, with major ramifications for the Luxury Tax threshold.

Paul Hembo of ESPN notes that the Phillies have had had the highest Fangraphs WAR for pitchers since 2021, with a significant lead over the Dodgers, who are second.  A lot of that has to do with the contributions of Suarez.

But to keep it going, the Phillies will have to keep some of their talent around.  The Phillies have a strong pitching core with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter.

While they have some prospects in Jean Cabrera and potentially the recovering Moises Chace, there is not a ton of depth otherwise.  This move gives the Phillies the chance to compete for years to come.

How big a prospect is Dante Nori? Looks good in the World Baseball Classic.
~Chris

Phillies prospect Dante Nori got some attention this World Baseball Classic.  Playing for Team Italy, Nori hit two home runs in one game, earning him Nori two espresso shots.  After two games, Nori was batting .714 with a 2.492 OPS.

I don't think I've seen an OPS that high even in a small sample size.

But Nori is ranked the number seven prospect on MLB Pipeline's Top 30.  Nori is a center fielder with a left-handed bat.  When the Phillies drafted him in the first round, he was considered small at 5'9 and 190 pounds.  We will have to see how he grows into that body.

His upside is generally seen as a starting center fielder in the big leagues.  He is not necessarily projected to be a power hitter, but could provide some pop to a major league club.

Nori is likely ticketed for Double-A Reading this season, where a nice group of prospects should be in 2026.

What are your thoughts on the battle for a RH outfield bat now that we are past the halfway point?
~Jason

The Phillies added some right-handed bats this offseason in pursuit of a platoon partner for outfielder Brandon Marsh.  Among them: Bryan De La Cruz, Pedro Leon, and Dylan Moore.   The only incumbent was mainly an infielder who made 11 appearances in the outfield in his major league career.

I think that Otto Kemp has really risen to the challenge and is setting himself far apart in the battle for the platoon job in left field.  I think in the last week he has shown the ability to see and hit the ball well, and he is getting extra base hits.

As of the writing of this mailbag, Kemp's OPS currently stands at .894.  Kemp has three doubles and two home runs in 28 at bats.

But beyond that, he has a certain sense of poise.  He seems to belong.

I thought that Kemp had the inside track for a roster spot, but I think he is in the process of earning a platoon job.

De La Cruz has been pretty good, too, but I think the inside track could go to Kemp as the organization really likes him and thinks highly of his ability.  I think De La Cruz would have to work hard to unseat him.

Moore has a shot at the roster, though I do not think he would get the platoon job.  Moore's ability to play around the diamond makes him a strong candidate to be the last man off of the bench.  The backup utility infielder often plays the least in the designated hitter era.

But I can see the Phillies being comfortable with an extra outfielder, knowing that Kemp can play the infield in an emergency; he made a couple starts at second base last season in the midst of some injuries.

So while there is plenty to be decided in the last two weeks in Clearwater, my best guess at this point is that Otto Kemp will be the other half of a Brandon Marsh platoon.