2019 free agent signing Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run that will be remembered forever Sunday, sending the Philadelphia Phillies back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Harper was named the Most Invaluable Participant of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence, but it surely was one other 2019 free agent signing that additionally shined within the Phillies’ series-clinching, 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres Sunday.
9 months after Phillies normal supervisor Matt Klentak tagged Bryce Harper with a 13-year, $330 million contract, the chief signed among the finest free agent contracts within the historical past {of professional} sports activities, locking up Zack Wheeler for 5 years and $118 million.
Wheeler has been dominant all through the 2022 postseason. Via 4 begins, Wheeler has a 1.78 ERA, 0.51 WHIP and 25 strikeouts over 25.1 innings pitched.
Over the primary six innings of Sunday’s sport, Wheeler allowed only one run on two hits and no walks, because the Phillies nursed a 2-1 lead.
After giving up a lead-off single to Jake Cronenworth to open the seventh inning, Wheeler’s day was executed.
Seranthony Dominguez would are available and run into instant hassle, throwing three wild pitches and giving up a Josh Bell RBI double, that may account for 2 runs, giving the Padres a 3-2 lead and setting the stage for the most important second of Harper’s profession.
Wheeler was wonderful as soon as once more, nevertheless, Sunday.
When Klentak signed Wheeler, the transfer was extremely scrutinized by followers and media.
Klentak and the Phillies entrance workplace noticed Wheeler as a pitcher getting into his age-30 season that might take a few steps, attain one other stage and turn into one of many sport’s finest pitchers.
A highly-touted prospect and the sixth total choose of the 2009 Main League Baseball Novice Draft, Wheeler confirmed flashes of greatness over his first two large league seasons, earlier than needing Tommy John surgical procedure that may put him on the shelf for all the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Wheeler’s return season, 2017, did not go properly. He posted a 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 86 innings and 17 begins.
Between 2018 and 2019, Wheeler was a great, not nice, pitcher for the New York Mets, logging a 3.65 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
The Phillies wasted no time in signing Wheeler as soon as he hit the free agent market, locking him as much as his five-year deal within the early levels of free company in Dec. 2019.
All through baseball historical past, groups have been haunted by dangerous free agent signings that tie them down financially. That’s not the story of the Zack Wheeler contract, although.
Wheeler excelled within the COVID-shortened 2020 season, ending twelfth in Nationwide League Cy Younger award voting.
In 2021, Wheeler completed second in Cy Younger voting and possibly ought to have received the award, as he led the Nationwide League in innings pitched, strikeouts, full video games and shutouts, to the tune of a 2.78 ERA.
Wheeler was wonderful once more in 2022, posting a 2.82 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 26 begins.
Wheeler has remodeled himself into a real ace, and his contract is trying like probably the most cost-effective in baseball.
Wheeler is owed $48 million over the ultimate two years of his contract in 2023 and 2024.
Wheeler goes to make primarily the identical quantity as Marcus Stroman will ($46 million) over the subsequent two seasons. Stroman signed with the Cubs final winter.
The Phillies acquired an elite pitcher on the worth most groups would pay for a high quality third starter or fourth starter.
In fact, Klentak didn’t stick round lengthy sufficient to benefit from the fruit of his labor, as he stepped down after the 2020 season and was quickly changed by Dave Dombrowski.
Phillies followers won’t look again on the Matt Klentak period with nostalgia, however they need to be pleased about at the least a pair of his free agent signings, each of whom performed a key function Sunday in sending the Phillies again to the World Sequence for the primary time since 2009.
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