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…