The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best starting pitchers in Major League Baseball in two-time All-Star Zack Wheeler, but they likely won’t have him much longer.
Wheeler, 35, is an 11-year veteran, spending his first five seasons with the New York Mets before joining the Phillies. In 13 starts this season, Wheeler is 6-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 101 strikeouts across 82 innings pitched.
Though Wheeler continues to pitch at a high level, once his three-year, $126 million contract extension is over, he intends to retire, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
“Wheeler has improved with age, defying assumptions about what an ace needs to stay elite in modern baseball,” Gelb wrote. “He has done it his way. Wheeler turned 35 three weeks ago; he remains in the conversation for the best starter in baseball. He has a 2.85 ERA. He has struck out 32 percent of the hitters he’s faced in 2025, a rate that’s third among all starters and the highest of Wheeler’s career.”
“Wheeler is unequivocal: When this $126 million contract expires at the end of the 2027 season, he is done with baseball. He has four kids at home who need a dad. He stares whenever anyone questions that.”
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Wheeler will be 37 when his contract expires, leaving him a free agent following the 2027 season. Even though he is still playing at a high level, it makes sense that he would call it quits and step away from the game. The Phillies are in the playoff race and can make a deep playoff run and potentially win a World Series before Wheeler retires.
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