He’ll stroll to the dugout around 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon he begins, just to gaze out over the field. He’ll watch the players go through their early infield practice or the grounds staff at work. He leans on the ledge, soaking everything in.
Seeing it, you feel as though someone is making an effort to savor the moment because they know it won’t continue forever. Despite reaching his prime a little later than most, Wheeler is still only 33 years old. He is aware that after ten years, these experiences won’t be repeating themselves. In five years, he might not even have them, voluntarily.
Wheeler did not want to sign a long-term contract with any organization. Until formally agreeing to a $126 million extension with the Phillies on Monday, he was scheduled to become a free agent after 2024. When the Phillies started contract talks, he and his agents made it plain that he wanted to sign a two- or three-year deal. He never inquired about opting out.
According to owner John Middleton, “Zack wanted that.” The comparison we made was between two and three years, not between three and six, seven, or eight. That was never discussed, really. They simply stated, “Here are our thoughts if this is a two-year deal, and here are our thoughts if this is a three-year deal.” We agreed to complete the two or three years. We enjoy the
Nine days prior to its announcement, on February 24, the day of the Phillies’ inaugural spring training game, the agreement was hammered out. The time was not coincidental. Wheeler was scheduled to leave camp because his wife, Dominique, was about to give birth to their third kid. And prior to the season, everyone desired a transaction to be completed.
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