Zack Wheeler is staying in the NL East.
The righty starter got his money and his years with the Phillies, signing a five-year deal worth $118 million, reports say.
Wheeler, 29, was one of the better starters on the market this offseason. He has been worth almost nine wins over the past two seasons, per Fangraphs, pitching in 195 1/3 innings and a 3.96 ERA in 2019.
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Wheeler, drafted by the Giants, was traded to the Mets in 2011 for outfielder Carlos Beltran, and he's made New York his home since. In five big-league seasons with the Mets, Wheeler pitched to a 3.77 ERA (3.71 FIP) with a 1.294 WHIP. While his injury issues seem to be in the rear-view mirror, some inconsistencies on the rubber have hurt his overall production.
The move is the Phillies' opening salvo of their offseason, and comes after the announced signing of Cole Hamels in Atlanta with the division-rival Braves.
Wheeler will pair alongside Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta as the top three in Philadelphia's rotation, surely aiding new manager Joe Girardi in his debut season as Phillies manager.
