Categories: News

Phillies to sign Zack Wheeler

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 16: New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) winds up during a MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets, on May 16, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)

The Philadelphia Phillies have made their first major move of the 2019 offseason.

According to Mark Craig of

The Athletic, the Phillies have signed free-agent righty Zack Wheeler. ESPN’s Jeff Passan is among those to report that the deal will be a five-year/$118 million deal.

In five seasons with the Mets, Wheeler, 29, went 44-38 with a 3.77 ERA and 3.71 FIP. Notably, he went 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA after the 2018 All-Star Break, which has led more than a few baseball observers to think that in the right situation, his consistent front-line potential could be unlocked.

Since the New York Mets issued a qualifying offer to Wheeler, the Phillies will have to relinquish their second highest draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft and $500,000 of international signing bonus pool money.

This story will be updated as more details come in…

Tim Kelly

Tim Kelly has been the Editorial Director for Phillies Nation since June of 2018. He also currently writes for Bleacher Report and Just Baseball. Previously, Kelly has done work for Audacy Sports, Sports Illustrated, SportsRadio 94 WIP and FanSided. Kelly is a graduate of Bloomsburg University.