Phillies cannot afford to wait with Zack Wheeler

The Philadelphia Phillies got lucky this offseason. That may not happen again.

The Phillies had offered Aaron Nola an extension before the 2023 season but could not agree on a deal. He entered free agency only to quickly re-sign in Philadelphia on a seven-year deal worth $172 million. Ultimately, the Phillies were lucky that Nola wanted to return after getting a brief taste of the market. They may not be as lucky with Zack Wheeler.

Right now, the Phillies are taking the same approach with Wheeler as they did with Nola. Todd Zoleski of MLB.com reported that the Phillies still consider extending Wheeler as a priority and are still working in that direction.

Wheeler has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game since signing with the Phillies. That continued in 2023 as he posted a 3.61 ERA and a 1.078 WHIP over his 192 innings, striking out 212 batters with 39 walks. He is not showing any signs of slowing down, although he will turn 34 years old during the upcoming season.

That is the balancing act the Phillies need to consider. Wheeler is a top-of-the-rotation starter and will be difficult to replace. He is also going to command a large contract should he reach the open market. 

The Phillies will also have to weigh the length of the contract Wheeler is seeking. A Max Scherzer type of deal may be more palatable than a five-year extension, especially with the type of salary he will receive.

Age catches up with us all. That will be the same with Wheeler despite his health over the past six years. That will have to be a factor for the Phillies but they may have no other choice if they want to keep their ace. Either way, they cannot afford to wait for the offseason to bring him back.