The Philadelphia Phillies reinforced their commitment to starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, and it has paid off handsomely. After signing him in 2019 to a five-year, \$188 million deal, they further extended him for three years with a \$126 million contract just before last season. Over his first five years with the team, Wheeler has been one of the most consistent and effective pitchers in the league. He’s made 32 starts in every season except the shortened 2020 campaign and 2022, when he had 26 starts. However, even for a pitcher known for his durability, there may be limits to how much he can handle.
When Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes revealed he’d be taking part in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer posed the question of whether more top-tier starters might follow suit. Usually, the best starting pitchers steer clear of the tournament, as it adds extra innings to their already-stressed arms and takes place right when they’d typically be ramping up for spring training.
Lauber asked Wheeler about participating in the World Baseball Classic, and the veteran ace replied with a clear four words: “This is our job.” “It’d be awesome to win a gold medal for your country, but at the same time, you’re playing the MLB season every year and you’re playing with a group of guys, getting paid to do it,” Wheeler added, per Lauber. “As much as I’d love to do it, this is where my stressful innings need to be. I don’t need to be going there and getting hurt.” Wheeler seemed to rule out any chance of joining Skenes on Team USA, given his focus on maintaining health for the team that employs him. And he added a warning for those players who might think the risk of injury is worth the experience. “If you go there and get hurt, your teammates might look at you a little differently,” Wheeler said. Even as Team USA enjoys a major recruitment boost by getting Skenes’ endorsement, it seems like some pitchers will never be comfortable signing up.
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