Phillies sign ace P Wheeler to $126 million, 3-year deal
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed with ace Zack Wheeler on a threeyear contract worth a reported $126 million, and his $42 million average salary would be the highest in franchise history.
The Phillies announced that Wheeler had agreed to the new deal Monday. The Phillies scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference at their spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida.
Wheeler’s original $118 million, five-year deal turned into one of the best free agent contracts in franchise history. The 33-year-old Wheeler is in the final year of that deal. The new contract will begin with the 2025 season.
He’s led the National League in strikeouts and innings pitched during his four seasons with the Phillies as the right-hander has been as durable as they come after he missed time with injuries with the New York Mets. He also leads all pitchers in wins above replacement (WAR), per FanGraphs, with 19.3 in that span.
After he missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons following Tommy John surgery, Wheeler has made 90 starts the last three seasons.
An NL Cy Young Award runner-up in 2021, Wheeler also won a Gold Glove last season.
Ex-AL MVP Donaldson announces his retirement
Josh Donaldson says he’s retiring after a 13year career in which he was voted the 2015 AL MVP and was selected to three All-Star Games.
The 38-year-old announced his plans Monday during an appearance on “The Mayor’s Office,” a podcast hosted by former major league first baseman Sean Casey. Donaldson is a free agent after splitting last season between the New York Yankees and Milwaukee.
“It’s sad because I’ll be not able to go out there and play the game that I love anymore, but it’s also a very happy time that I get to be around the family and kind of take that next chapter in life,” said Donaldson, who noted that he got married during the offseason.
Donaldson was among the top third basemen from 2013-17 with Oakland and Toronto.
He finished fourth in the AL MVP balloting with Oakland in 2013 and won the award with Toronto two years later. During that 2015 season, Donaldson hit .297 with 41 homers and an AL-leading 123 RBIs.