Philadelphia Phillies, Zack Wheeler agree on a 3-year, $126 million contract extension

The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a three-year, $126 million contract extension with their right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler, according to ESPN on Monday.

This deal will begin to take effect in 2025 and keep Wheeler from becoming a free agent after the 2024 season. Its annual salary of $42 million is the highest in baseball history in the category of extension. Even among salaries of contracts signed by free agent pitchers, this number is at the top level. The deals signed by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with the New York Mets in 2021 and 2022, respectively, averaged $43.3 million per year.

"I've really just enjoyed being here in Philly," Wheeler said on Monday. "The fans are the best. Playing in Citizens Bank in October, there's nothing like it."

Wheeler joined the Phillies in December 2019 on a five-year, $118 million contract. He threw a 3.06 earned run average per season with a 43-25 record in 101 games for the team. The team made the playoffs in both of the past two seasons, advancing to the World Series in 2022 and the National League Championship Series in 2023.

"I think it works out for me; I think it works out for the team," Wheeler said. "I'd rather have it now than go to free agency and see what happens."

In Wheeler's early years with the Phillies, the owner of the team, John Middleton, rejected any possibility of trading him, not even for Babe Ruth or Ted Williams. The team loves him and trusts him with a big role, like they do with Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez.

"I was happy he got over the 40 million mark because he's one of the best pitchers in baseball the last couple of years," Bryce Harper said of Wheeler. "So, he definitely deserves it, man."