Zack Wheeler in agreement on a three-year, $126 million extension with the Philadelphia Phillies

According to reports, the Philadelphia Phillies and Zack Wheeler have agreed to a three-year contract worth $126 million, a $42 million AAV. 

Zack Wheeler agrees to multi-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler and the Phillies have agreed to a multi-year extension. Wheeler would have been the No. 1 pitcher free agent next fall, but instead, he stays in Philly. By season’s end, he will also accumulate 10-5 rights, and with that the power to veto any trade. Announcement…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 4, 2024

With the initial details, the Wheeler contract extension includes the most lucrative AAV for an extension in MLB history. 

Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has posted a 3.06 ERA, with 675 strikeouts, as well as a 42-25 record over 101 starts in a Phillies uniform. 

Wheeler also is second in all-time postseason WHIP at .726 and leads the stat when there is a minimum of 40 innings pitched. He carries a 4-3 record over 10 postseason starts, with a 2.42 ERA and 68 strikeouts. All of his postseason appearances have been with the Phillies. 

Great move by the Phillies. Ink Wheeler to a new deal and stop having to worry about it throughout the 2024 season.

Earlier in the offseason, Wheeler expressed his interest in getting an extension done before the season started. Credit to Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the organization for delivering on that request and holding true to their words that a Wheeler extension was a priority.

With the Wheeler extension, the Phillies have now locked up their number one and two pitchers for the next three years, with Aaron Nola getting a seven-year deal worth $172 million earlier this offseason. The Phillies can now shift their focus on plugging the holes that are still left on the roster ahead of Opening Day.

Blake Snell has been a name mentioned, with the Phillies having interest in the two-time Cy Young Award winner, but only on a short-term contract, similar to what Cody Bellinger signed with the Cubs. 

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Szagola of the AP