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The Philadelphia Phillies doubled down on their investment in starter Zack Wheeler and it has paid off.
After joining the team in 2019 through a five-year, $188 million contract, Wheeler was extended for another three years with a $126 million deal just ahead of last season. Throughout his five years with the team so far, he has performed as one of the most durable and effective pitchers in all of baseball. Wheeler has made 32 starts in each of those seasons except for the pandemic-shortened campaign in 2020 and in 2022, when he logged 26 starts.
But even for an arm that seems to defy wear and tear, there might be a bridge too far.
After Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes announced that he'd be participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber raised the question if more frontline starters might join him.
Typically, the best starters avoid the tournament, as it puts some extra innings on their already-vulnerable arms and it comes just as they would normally be gearing up in 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.
