Phillies sign Zack Wheeler to record-breaking contract extension (report)
The Phillies and Zack Wheeler are in agreement on a three-year, $126 million contract extension. The $42 million annual average value is the highest for an extension in baseball history.
ESPN’s Buster Olney was one of the first reporters with the news of an extension.
Wheeler will receive 10-5 rights following the 2024 season. That will give him the ability to veto any trade for the remainder of his big league career.
The 33-year-old was one of the Phillies top priorities this offseason. With locking up both Wheeler and Aaron Nola, Philly has spent a whopping $298 million atop their starting rotation.
Wheeler had been hopeful a new deal would get done once he got into camp. The Phillies’ ace was looking for a deal that would pay him market value.
”Hopefully it does [get done],” Wheeler said to reporters on Feb. 14, including the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I love it here. We’re happy here. It’s a good organization. We’re winning. All things are looking great, right? I’d love to be here.”
Wheeler has spent four seasons with the Phillies, he owns a 43-25 record while posting a 3.06 ERA in 101 starts over 629 1/3 innings. He also won a Gold Glove Award last season.
The veteran righty was entering the final season of a five-year, $118 million deal. His new extension will begin in 2025 and will be the highest AAV for a Phillies player. Only Shohei Ohtani (($46.1 million, Max Scherzer ($43.3 million) and Justin Verlander ($43.3 million) will earn more than Wheeler.
According to Matt Gelb of the Athletic, this maybe Wheeler’s last MLB contract. The righty may not want to pitch beyond this new deal.
