Philadelphia Phillies veteran starter Zach Wheeler didn’t wait until next year’s free agency period to get a new contract.
Wheeler remains in the City of Brotherly Love after signing a three-year contract worth $126 million, which begins during the 2025 season.
Wheeler is scheduled to make $23.5 million in his 2024 campaign.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies signed a three-year contract worth $126 million. (Carmen Mandart/Getty Images/File)
The 33-year-old, who posted a 3.61 ERA last season, explained why he signed a short-term contract with the Phillies with an eye on life after baseball.
“I enjoy pitching and I want to be here,” Wheeler said Monday at a press conference at Baycare Ballpark, the Phillies’ spring home. “I love to compete. But I don’t want to play until I’m an old man. And I want to be with my family. But I’m definitely enjoying every moment here,” I enjoy every moment of being on the mound. It’s special. “And not everyone can do that. As much as I do, not everyone can do that. I am grateful.”
Wheeler will earn $42 million a year starting next season, making it the largest contract extension in MLB history.
Phillies end long-running $1 hot dog night last season after fans threw them onto the field
Compared to other veteran pitchers in MLB, Wheeler’s 2025 average is the third-highest annual average for a pitcher behind Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. That’s the fourth-highest total among all MLB players, behind only Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who signed a $700 million contract this offseason.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski explained Wheeler’s contract extension from a front office perspective.
Zack Wheeler’s contract is the largest contract extension in MLB history. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“We said, ‘Okay, let’s prove right now that he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball,'” he explained. “Is he No. 1, No. 2, No. 3? We don’t need to go into that. But he’s one of the best pitchers. And the reality is, one of the best pitchers. “Not only is he one of the best pitchers,” he said, “but he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. So when he gets that ball in his hands in the postseason, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be on the mound with than Zach.”
Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has started 10 games and had a 2.42 ERA in relief in last year’s 2023 National League CS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His only postseason struggle was in the 2020 World Series against the Houston Astros, where he started two games and pitched 10.1 innings with a 5.32 ERA.
Although the Phillies lost to the D-backs last season, Wheeler pitched 14.2 innings with a 1.84 ERA, nine hits, three earned runs, 17 strikeouts and two walks.
In the regular season, Wheeler will get innings for the Phillies, making him a perfect fit to save the bullpen. He pitched 192 innings last season, striking out 212 batters and giving up just 39 walks in 32 starts.
His only All-Star appearance came in Philadelphia in 2021, where he pitched a league-leading 213.1 innings with a 2.78 ERA and 247 strikeouts in 32 starts. He finished second in Cy Young Award voting that year, losing out on the award to Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes.
Zach Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the bottom of the first inning of Game 5 of the National League CS on October 21, 2023 in Phoenix. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
With a swing-and-miss arsenal that includes a high-90s fastball and a sharp-moving slider, the Phillies lock up Wheeler for years to come as they continue to increase their championship chances.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
