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Philadelphia Phillies sign pitcher Zack Wheeler to contract extension, according to report

greg giesen and anthony dimattia, delaware news journal
·2 min read

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a multi-year extension with staff ace Zack Wheeler, according to a press release from the team.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported the deal is worth $126 million over three years. By the end of the season, Wheeler will have 10-5 rights with the power to veto any trade. Wheeler's salary of $42 million per year would be the highest extension in baseball history in terms of annual value,

Wheeler was entering the final year of a 5 year, $118-million deal he signed in December of 2019.

Wheeler was 13-6 last season with the Phillies and finished sixth in Cy Young voting while also earning a Gold Glove. He had a 3.61 ERA and struck out 212 batters. He averaged nine strikeouts per nine innings and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.4.

In his first year with the Phillies, the shortened 2020 season, he was 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA and finished 12th in NL Cy Young voting. He followed that with a dominating 2021 season. He was 14-10 with a 2.71 ERA and a National League-leading 247 strikeouts. He was an NL All-Star and finished second in NL Cy Young voting and 19th in NL MVP voting.

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In 11 postseason games (10 starts), Wheeler has posted a 2.42 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 6.80 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has held the 238 batters he has faced to a .161/.210/.250 slash line. Among all pitchers in major league postseason history to face a minimum of 200 batters, Wheeler ranks first in WHIP and opponent’s on-base percentage, second in opponent’s batting average and third in opponent’s OPS and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The extension caps a productive off-season for the Phillies. In November, the Phillies re-signed Aaron Nola to a 7-year, $172-million deal. With the extension to Wheeler, the Phillies have locked up the top of their rotation.

A native of Smyrna, Ga., Wheeler was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round (6th overall) of the 2009 MLB Draft. He was traded to the New York Mets on July 28, 2011, in exchange for outfielder Carlos Beltrán. Over nine major league seasons with the Phillies and Mets, Wheeler has made 227 career starts and is 87-63 with a 3.45 ERA.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Phillies sign pitcher Zack Wheeler to contract extension: report