The Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Zack Wheeler agreed to a multi-year contract extension, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
The deal is worth $126 million over three years, an average annual value of $42 million, Olney reports. It is the highest AAV in Phillies' history and the third highest for a pitcher ever, according to Scott Lauber. His extension begins in 2025.
Phillies President of Operations Dave Dombrowski says he’s thrilled the deal’s done.
“To us, Zack is one of the best pitchers in the game of baseball. I don't think I could think of another individual I'd rather have take the ball in a big game for a club than Zack,” he said.
“He was very eager to get this done, too, and remain a Phillie.”
Wheeler, 33, has spent the last four seasons with the Phillies, going 43-25 with a 3.06 ERA in the regular season. He earned the 2021 All-Star and second-team MLB honors when he threw three complete games and two complete game shutouts.
Wheeler has been magnificent in the postseason over the last two seasons, allowing just 36 hits and 17 earned runs over 63.1 innings in 10 starts and 11 appearances, good for a 2.42 ERA.
Wheeler has a 0.726 postseason WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitcher), the lowest of all-time.
He says the Phillies are a great organization and he “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Just first class, first class all the way,” he said. “And they really take care of our families and put that effort in to make them comfortable and happy and that makes us happy as players because we're at the field all day, they're taking care of the family and it just makes our life easier."