The Phillies have signed right-handed starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, according to The Athletic's Marc Carig.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the deal is for five years, worth $118 million.
Related: MLB Rumors: Latest on Phillies, Didi Gregorius
According to Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox offered Wheeler more money, but he wanted to be in the Philadelphia area, as his wife is from New Jersey.
#WhiteSox's offer to Wheeler was for MORE than the $118M he will receive from the #Phillies, sources tell The Athletic. As @MarcCarig said, Wheeler's wife is from New Jersey, and that proximity was an important consideration in his decision.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2019Wheeler, 29, was 11-8 with a 3.96 ERA with 195 strikeouts and 50 walks last season with the Mets. For his career, Wheeler has a 3.77 ERA. Over the last two seasons Wheeler has made 60 starts pitching over 377 innings.
Wheeler will give the Phillies' starting rotation a much needed boost. Philadelphia was 17th in team ERA (4.53), 23rd in opponents slugging percentage (4.53), and 26th in home runs allowed (258) last season.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cole Hamels reportedly signed a one-year deal worth $18 million with the Atlanta Braves.
