The Philadelphia Phillies had a nice gesture for pitcher Cristopher Sanchez after he was kept off the National League All-Star roster.
Sanchez said Saturday that the Phillies had agreed to pay him a $50,000 bonus even though he was not named to the team, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Sanchez had reportedly been entitled to a $200,000 bonus had he been selected as an All-Star.
Sanchez was not named to the team despite a 2.59 ERA in 18 starts entering play Saturday. The Phillies were particularly angered that he was overlooked in favor of a player who has just five MLB starts to his name. Reports claimed that Sanchez was offered a spot on the team if he was willing to throw an inning for the NL, even though he is scheduled to start for Philadelphia on Sunday.
Sanchez’s agent disputed that such an offer had ever been made, and said his client would have been willing to pitch had he received such an offer.
An update to The All-Star Situation: Gene Mato, Cristopher Sánchez's agent, disputes that MLB ever asked Sánchez to go.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 12, 2025
"He is willing to pitch no matter what," Mato said.
Sánchez, by not being selected, misses out on $200k bonus. More @TheAthletic: https://t.co/hLX5g49uUd
Sanchez is making $2 million this season. In the grand scheme of things, a $50,000 bonus is not that much, but it is more about the goodwill gesture at this point.
The 28-year-old is following up his breakout 2024 season with an even better 2025. In addition to his 2.59 ERA, he has a 7-2 record with 116 strikeouts in 107.2 innings of work.
