3 Phillies who won’t be back in 2025 thanks to Zack Wheeler extension

In the 2019 offseason, Zack Wheeler signed a five-year contract to join the Philadelphia Phillies in what eventually turned out to be one of the best signings in Phillies history. Wheeler developed from a pitcher who former Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen eloquently stated had two good halves into one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

With the 33-year-old entering the final year of that initial contract, the Phillies made it a priority to get him extended. Just weeks after Spring Training began, the Phillies got it done.

The terms of the extension were pretty pricey, as the right-hander inked a three-year extension worth $126 million. Limiting the term was a plus, but with Wheeler set to make over $40 million annually, that could mean the futures of these three Phillies players are in jeopardy.

3. Whit Merrifield won’t be back in 2025 thanks to Zack Wheeler’s extension

The Phillies made a savvy move this offseason, signing Whit Merrifield to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Merrifield won’t be an everyday player on this Phillies team without an injury or two taking place, but his versatility will come in handy as a utility man coming off the bench.

The three-time All-Star isn’t quite the player he once was in his days with the Royals, but is still extremely productive. Just this past season he was an All-Star with the Blue Jays. While his overall numbers weren’t stellar, he was hitting at a .303 clip with a very respectable .781 OPS through July. Struggles in August and September put a damper on things, but he was performing at a very high level for most of the 2023 campaign.

Having Merrifield as a bench player is a tremendous luxury that many teams wish they could have, but with Wheeler set to make so much money in 2024, will Philadelphia really exercise his $8 million club option? Perhaps they will if he has a big year, but it’s hard to justify paying a bench player that much money when they have a ton of money on their books already.

It feels more likely that the Phillies will either roll with what they have off the bench or try to find a cheaper option.

2. Seranthony Dominguez won’t be back in 2025 thanks to Zack Wheeler’s extension

Seranthony Dominguez has had his ups and downs throughout his Phillies career. He looked like their closer of the future after a dominant rookie year, but injuries and inconsistency from 2019-21 hampered him in a big way.

He’d return to form in 2022 looking like the Dominguez of old, but took more of a step back this past season. The right-hander had a respectable 3.78 ERA and was mostly healthy, appearing in 58 games, but he was not particularly good in big spots.

Dominguez had seven blown saves this past season and had a 5.21 ERA in save situations. That’s not going to cut it.

The 29-year-old is making a very reasonable $4.5 million this upcoming season, but that number jumps to $8 million with a club option for 2025. Maybe if he has a much better year they’ll consider exercising that, but Philadelphia could also just hope an internal option like Orion Kerkering steps up and fills in for Dominguez.

1. Matt Strahm won’t be back in 2025 thanks to Zack Wheeler’s extension

The Matt Strahm signing turned out to age better than most expected. He wound up pitching extremely well for the Phillies in a variety of roles throughout the campaign.

Strahm opened the year in the rotation with Ranger Suarez injured and then transitioned to the bullpen once Suarez came back and pitched well in both roles. He’ll begin the 2024 campaign in the bullpen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start on occasion if the Phillies need him to.

Overall, the southpaw posted a 3.29 ERA in 56 appearances and 87.2 innings of work while also delivering 5.1 scoreless innings in the postseason. He’s a pitcher the Phillies would love to have, but again, this all comes down to the money.

The 32-year-old is set to be a free agent after this season and if he pitches well again while showing the versatility he offered in 2023, there’s a good chance he’ll price himself out of a potential return to Philadelphia for 2025.

This article was originally published on fansided.com as 3 Phillies who won’t be back in 2025 thanks to Zack Wheeler extension.