The Philadelphia Phillies are attempting to extend right-hander Zack Wheeler after missing out on free agent starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly interested in re-signing right-hander Zack Wheeler after missing out on free agent starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
According to an MLB.com article:
Aside from relatively minor upgrades, sources say the top priority is to extend ace Zack Wheeler’s contract. Even if they were fortunate enough to sign Yamamoto, it was something they had always intended to pursue.
Wheeler will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Wheeler is 33 years old, so it’s unclear how long a deal he could get, but it appears that the team would need to give him at least a three or four-year deal to entice him to forego free agency.
The veteran has played in nine different major league seasons. He made his major league debut with the New York Mets in 2013, and then pitched in 2014 before missing the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons due to injury.
He joined the Phillies before the COVID 2020 season and helped them win the World Series in 2022.
He’s won double digit games in six different seasons, including a 13-6 record this year. He’s 87-63 with a 3.45 ERA in his career. During the 2021 season, he was named to the All-Star team.
It’s unclear how much money the Phillies still have in their budget. They already have long-term contracts with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. The team would also like to potentially renegotiate Harper’s contract.
This past season, Philadelphia advanced to the NLCS.
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