Jesús Luzardo, Phillies agree to 5-year, $135 million extension

00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, this is Jesus is Argo and welcome to the Philly Show.

00:00:07
Speaker 2: Hey, Jesus Lizardo, it's time for an emergency pod. Unfortunately, guys, I don't have a siren, so I have a I got this. I could do one of these. That's about as close to an emergency pod sound as we've got on The Philly Show right now. But it's Ruben Tomorrow Junior, Jim Salisbury, Todd's lucky. We're coming to you Monday night, March eighth, March ninth, twenty twenty six. And we're here because Jesus Zardo has agreed to a five year, one hundred and thirty five million dollar contract extension with the Phillies. And gotta give some love here to my buddy, Jim, our buddy, Jim first, with the details on the terms of the DNI de Niro.

00:01:04
Speaker 3: Give me that information, Jim.

00:01:15
Speaker 1: I'm moving a cup of tea.

00:01:17
Speaker 2: Build a t Jim's build the tea. All right, Reuben, let's go.

00:01:21
Speaker 3: Five years, one hundred and thirty five million dollars.

00:01:23
Speaker 2: Jesus Sozarto your thoughts.

00:01:26
Speaker 4: I'm all about pitching. I'm all about starting pitching all the time. I don't think that they were necessarily negotiating from a position of leverage where the Phillies, But I think it's really important. I think that they see the ability in the young man. I see the type of person he is. I'd see'd you know, they feel like he was super super healthy all year last year and he's gotten over some of those issues. Always a risk when you go more than two or three years with a pitcher.

00:01:59
Speaker 3: It is what it is. But the fact that they got him done it's.

00:02:03
Speaker 4: Huge, and uh, they're keeping the quality pitching that they have.

00:02:08
Speaker 3: He's one of the better.

00:02:10
Speaker 4: Take away those couple of starts where you know, he got lit up for twenty earned runs or whatever in two starts, and he had purb seasons.

00:02:20
Speaker 1: So in fact, Ruben, if you take away those two starts, twenty ernies in five and two thirds, he finished his season with a three point nine to two ERA if you take away those two starts, and you can do it because they were back to back. Clearly he had a flaw tipping pitches, but you take away those two starts, he had a three point oh three ERA three point oh three, and he actually finished seventh in cy Young voting. Take out those two two starts and he might be more like fourth or fifth. So you know, the big thing to me was last year, you know, the year before before he came over in the trade, had that back issue, only made twelve starts, stayed healthy, made his what thirty two starts last year, And you know, I mean I like the term at five years when I know, you know, Frober only got three Ranger GT five this year. It's in line with those but you know, just a few years ago they gave Nola seven, you know, and I remember the times when Ruben and Pat Gillick were running the show. They had a philosophy or a organizational policy, nothing over a three year deal for a pitcher. So the game has changed a lot. But you know, I think this is a potential win for the Phillies. Five years reasonable term in my mind in today's game, twenty seven aav it's kind of right where some of the top lefties are in the game, and I you know, and even below some of them. He's headed that way, you know, with good health. I think at age twenty eight, this is going to take him through age thirty three to be able to you know, sign a twenty eight year old pitcher to a long term deal. It's not like he's hitting free agency at thirty two. He's twenty eight, and they're gonna get maybe the prime of his career if he keeps trending in the right direction and bills on that healthy season. And I think we all like what we've seen. He just seems to be getting better. And Phillies had to do it, had to do it. You know, they got Painter in the rotation this year. Nice to see his graduation kind of coming, but not a lot coming in the short term right after him, and they need pitching. And they got five of them locked up for twenty seven, twenty six, and twenty seven. Not bad for starters, as they.

00:04:42
Speaker 2: Say, yeah, and they have, so they have. You said, the five starters, you have Wheeler, Nola, Sanchez, Lozardo, Painter locked up through twenty twenty seven. Wheeler's a free agent after twenty twenty seven, but they now have Sanchez, Lozardo, Nola locked up through twenty thirty. You know, the Sanchez deal, He's got a couple club options, very club friendly club options, like fifteen million, sixteen million, fourteen million, fifteen million right around there. So If Christopher Sanchez does what he does, that's those are no brainers. You hope that Aaron Nola finishes his career strong, you know, bounces back after last season. But tell you what, it's for the Phillies, it's got to be a comforting feeling knowing that you have Lizardo and least Sanchez going forward, because there are question marks with Wheeler despite all the encouraging news this offseason. There are question marks certainly with Nola despite you know how well he's thrown early in camp. You don't know what you're going to get out of Pain or Taiwan Walker's free agent after the season, and they don't really have much like immediately coming down the pike, you know, in terms of rotation helps. So definitely, I think they they've got to feel better about their situation right now.

00:06:00
Speaker 1: And when they made this trade around Christmas in twenty twenty four, all of us were like, we all thought Ranger was going to go to free agency. We all kind of looked at this as you know, maybe Rangers' long term replacement if he was healthy and they wanted to extend the relationship. Certainly had that potential, and it's kind of working out that way.

00:06:23
Speaker 4: So the real question then becomes why did they do it for Ranger and why would they do it for Lizardo? And I will tell you why, because they feel like Lozardo is going to be a more durable pitcher. Rangers had some issues with his back, with his legs and stuff. He's had some issues being able to stay healthy and to be able to pitch consistently. Now Lozardo's got a little bit of a speckled pass with that too, But based on what they saw, I mean recency bias, based on what they saw last year, they feel like this is a guy that is going to stay healthy, He's going to be more durable, and he's going to be able to handle the rigors of throwing thirty two you know, thirty two games started hopefully, you know, one hundred and seventy five plus innings, and Ranger really hasn't done that consistently.

00:07:12
Speaker 3: I don't. I think he's only done it once. So I think they feel like Lizardo could be that guy.

00:07:18
Speaker 1: And he's this guy is two years younger than Ranger. And we all respect the hell out of Ranger. He was a great Philly, but you certainly can see the way they were thinking, and it is comes down to durability as you mentioned.

00:07:32
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00:07:43
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00:08:22
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00:08:25
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00:09:20
Speaker 3: Well, I mean it's obvious, I mean you had some issues with his back.

00:09:23
Speaker 4: But it's one of the things I've been saying a lot is that the Phillies really do a great job medically with their with their entire ball club, I mean, their medical staff. I'm sure that Dave Dombrowski consulted with Paul Bukai and the rest of that medical staff to find out what his habits are, to find out if he is a high risk, low risk, whatever the case may be, before making this deal. Sometimes when you get your hands on the guy and you have him for a full year, you know a little bit more about his makeup. You know a little bit more about his about his anatomy and his work ethic and that sort of thing. And so I think all those things sort of dialed up and made it such that the Phillies wanted to be aggressive and bring him and keep him in Philly for a long time.

00:10:12
Speaker 1: Great point a year's worth of intel on the body and the health and the mind and the makeup. And I think we all agree the makeup is tremendous. This kid competes, he likes being a Philly. He's great in the clubhouse, he's upbeat. He's sort of a total package type of teammate guy. His risks in every contract ever signed, there's always a risk, especially with pictures. You never know when you're gonna throw your last pitch. But I think this is a sound risk.

00:10:49
Speaker 3: Yeah. And the other the other part of that, this is his community. I mean, this is a community guy. He's a great kid. I mean, go ahead time.

00:10:58
Speaker 2: No, no, no, I I was a agree with you, rubin the community aspect of him. I was going to add on to that exactly reading my thoughts, Ruben, is that talk about his makeup. He's very involved in his community in Florida. I think he's going to be very involved in his community in Philadelphia. And that's not why you sign a guy. Throw a one hundred and thirty five million dollars out a guy, but makes you feel a little better, a little bit better about doing it knowing that you know he is a high makeup guy. Like you said in the clubhouse, super upbeat, super upbeat, gets along with everybody, you know, great competitive Todd.

00:11:33
Speaker 3: Todd.

00:11:34
Speaker 1: I would imagine tomorrow down there will be a press conference and if you remember, maybe I should tell you off the air, so so the eavesdroppers won't eavesdrop.

00:11:48
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, I'm gonna tell you great, my brother.

00:11:52
Speaker 1: No, no, I'm gonna give you I'm gonna When we had we had lazarro on the podcast last was it May? He was really good. Yeah, good time to dial that one up, folks and go listen to that one. But he he was. He's from the Fort Lauderdale area. His commitment commitment was the University of Miami. The Nationals threw a load of money Adams, we signed, But do you remember I asked him about, you know, college and all. He said he made a promise to his father that someday he's going to get his degree. I want to know if he's still going to get that degree.

00:12:26
Speaker 2: He can probably buy one of those honorary degrees now from some universities somewhere.

00:12:31
Speaker 4: Right, But great, great family and obviously the family the parents raised him right, because he is.

00:12:45
Speaker 3: As you talked about, Todd. I mean, this is a great quality human being.

00:12:49
Speaker 4: And uh, my only fear is that I hope he doesn't try to do too much to try to overpitch yeah the contract. In other words, don't try to do too much. Just be yourself, because I know he has a lot of high expectations on himself.

00:13:07
Speaker 3: And he and you know when he doesn't do well, he doesn't he loses sleep. I mean, you want that kind of guy.

00:13:13
Speaker 4: To care, but you also don't want to to care so much that it that it takes away from his natural ability.

00:13:22
Speaker 1: Well on the and that's a great point. You don't want to if he was you know, if he doesn't sign this extension, he's in his walk here and sometimes guys try to do too much in that year. So maybe on the flip side, this gives him a little peace of mind and he can just let it flow.

00:13:38
Speaker 2: And now guess what he can do. Guys, if Venezuela gets If Venezuela gets to the semi final championship game, he can feel a little bit freer to go drop in, parachute in and pitching that game, rather than maybe worrying about injuring himself.

00:13:53
Speaker 1: If I were the Phillies, I would I would say, uh, hubble, I would say, right for the he signs the contract. Oh, by the way, you will only be cheering for Venezuela.

00:14:06
Speaker 4: Right, it's a.

00:14:09
Speaker 3: Little I might have been part of the discussion. Actually, you're not. You're not wrong.

00:14:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, I I.

00:14:15
Speaker 1: I'm I'm enjoying the heck out of the w b C. I really am. It's been a lot of fun. But you know, I think, mister Hayessaro, just stay right, stay.

00:14:26
Speaker 2: Right here, Okay. So I want to I want to close. I want to close this emergency pod. Emergency pod. I gotta get a new sir, and that's more like a.

00:14:40
Speaker 1: I want you to get like a British ambulance.

00:14:43
Speaker 2: Like I'm to work on that. So I want to finish with this. Guys, who's next for a contract extension from the Phillies. Is there anybody is there any idiot you think off the top of your head doesn't have to be a guy that's necessarily a free agent after after the season. The free agents after the season are boy who's an Elvarado, Taiwan Walker, Alec Bohm, at Mundo Sosa, Doley Scarcia, or our free agents. Doesn't have to be one of those guys. But if you had to, if you had to put a little wager on who's next, who do you think it's going to be? Bryce and Stott.

00:15:29
Speaker 1: I'm gonna say if, and this is a big if, like if Andrew Painter is the rookie of the Year this year, I could see them doing one of those buy out a few of your type of things.

00:15:41
Speaker 3: Nob. Yeah, I don't think that agent's could allow him to do it. Oh ye Scott, Yeah, Scott, he's too famous, he's been too famous for well, I'm not really sure that I think it's a great idea.

00:15:58
Speaker 4: I just don't think that that that's gonna that agents could allow him to do that.

00:16:04
Speaker 3: Then next for the center fielder, No, Crawford, good, good, Crawford early. They could, but I don't think they'll go all depends on I think depends.

00:16:21
Speaker 1: Yea, it depends on how they perform. You kind of got me on that one time.

00:16:26
Speaker 3: Many years, my brethren, many years, not since Shane Victorino have they had a everyday center fielder.

00:16:33
Speaker 2: That's a great point, Roere. But it's been a long run of just running different people through there.

00:16:38
Speaker 1: Correct, what's about ricky Otaro doesn't do it for you?

00:16:43
Speaker 2: Was long before him a double had a run there for a little.

00:16:46
Speaker 3: Bet, exactly exactly, All kay?

00:16:51
Speaker 2: What about I mean Duran Doran is a guy you know maybe you know.

00:16:55
Speaker 3: That, you're right, you got it.

00:17:00
Speaker 2: Torn's a free agent after twenty twenty seven, he'd be a guy.

00:17:03
Speaker 3: I would like to lock up. Yeah, you got you got it.

00:17:06
Speaker 2: But there's no rush on. There's no rush on that one. That might be next spring or you know, mid seat you.

00:17:11
Speaker 1: Know, yeah, durn Toron's the guy.

00:17:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so they got they got some time. They got some time for that one. So uh, hit it early though, you never know that's true. Get him locked up while you can. I mean, guy's a stud. A lot of these guys as they get closer, they smell that money. Jyzus was he could have he could have done it, but hey, one hundred and thirty five million dollars. Now he's set for life.

00:17:39
Speaker 5: Obviously, very happy in Philadelphia, very happy with the way things have worked out with Caleb Coffam, the pitching people, all the things that he's wanting to do, and the improvements he's made.

00:17:50
Speaker 3: Got to give a lot of credit to a lot of people. That takes a village to make this stuff happen.

00:17:55
Speaker 4: Guys, and and uh, the Phillies have made a made their place a nice landing spot for folks to play, the.

00:18:04
Speaker 2: Good place for pitchers. Man. They've you know, like you mentioned Caleb Coffin, that pitching staff or a pitching department has done a pretty good job with a lot of these guys.

00:18:14
Speaker 1: Just like John Smoltz said. John smolt said, they'll never sign free agent pitcher.

00:18:20
Speaker 3: Remember that.

00:18:21
Speaker 1: Oh it's a good copy.

00:18:25
Speaker 2: All right, guys, Thanks for Thanks to everybody for joining the Emergency Pod.

00:18:30
Speaker 3: We'll be back.

00:18:30
Speaker 2: We got another show coming later.

00:18:32
Speaker 1: This week already. Thanks for being with us on the Emergency Smell you later.

00:18:41
Speaker 2: The Philly Show is brought to you by the Foul Territory Network. Subscribe to The Philly Show on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts,