Phillies grant Cristopher Sanchez re-worked six-year deal, finalize 2026 roster

The Phillies this past week announced Cristopher Sanchez would make his first Opening Day start this Thursday against the Texas Rangers. It would come in year two of a four-year, $22.5 million deal he signed in June of 2024, a contract Sanchez has significantly outpitched since putting pen to paper. Just four days before the dream became true at Citizens Bank Park, the southpaw was rewarded.

Sanchez has signed a new six-year deal with the Phillies that begins in 2027. The new contract guarantees Sanchez $107 million through 2032, including his $3.5 million salary in 2026, and $30 million for both the 2031 and 2032 seasons, and a club option for $44.5 million for 2033.

Sanchez set personal bests this past season with 13 wins, a 2.50 ERA, 202 innings, and 212 strikeouts. Sanchez also posted 22 quality starts, which tied him for the most in baseball with Logan Webb and Garrett Crochet. The 29-year-old finished second in National League Cy Young voting behind only Paul Skenes. Sanchez also had two outstanding starts against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, tossing 13 strikeouts in 12 innings.

The Phillies did not have to restructure the deal. In baseball, in fact, it is rare to see a deal refurbished in the middle of the contract. However, they rewarded their ace, who defied plenty of odds to earn his paycheck.

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The Phillies also finalized their Opening Day 26-man roster for the 2026 season on Sunday.

Catchers (2): J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchan

Infielders (6): Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, Dylan Moore

Outfielders (4): Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, Adolis Garcia, Otto Kemp

Starting pitchers (5): Cristopher Sanchez (L), Aaron Nola (R), Jesus Luzardo (L), Taijuan Walker (R), Andrew Painter (R)

Releivers (8): Right-handers: Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Jonathan Bowlan, Zach Pop. Left-handers: Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks, Kyle Backhus, Tim Mayza

Designated hitter (1): Kyle Schwarber

Injured list (3): Zack Wheeler, Orion Kerkering, Max Lazar

The Phillies added Crawford, Moore, and Mayza to their 40-man roster and removed Zach McCambley and Garrett Stubbs. The Phils will be at 39 on the 40-man to begin the season.

With Marchan winning the backup catcher position for the second straight year, there were some murmurs about Stubbs potentially being the 26th man. He got looks at third base and the outfield, but it just did not work out, and Moore, a veteran utilityman, got the final bench spot.

Stubbs, now, is out of options. The Phillies will look to find him a big-league job via trade in the coming days before designating him for assignment. They reportedly would like to keep him in the organization. If there is no trade, that could happen. Stubbs signed a split deal that pays $575,000 in the minors. Stubbs must accept an outright assignment to Triple-A to retain that salary. Rene Pinto and Caleb Ricketts are next on the catching depth chart, Dave Dombrowski said.

The two young names, Paitner and Crawford, will start right away. Crawford will be in center, and Painter’s first start comes on Tuesday, March 31, at home against the Washington Nationals. Aidan Miller is still expected to join them at some point, but with him not appearing in a spring training game all spring due to back soreness, that is now up in the air. Miller will begin the season on the minor-league injured list.

For the IL, Kerkering will rejoin the team when eligible. Wheeler will pitch in a minor-league game Monday when camp breaks, join the team for Opening Day on Thursday, and then is slotted for an official rehab assignment. He is targeting a return sometime in April.

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