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MLB Free Agents: This Winter’s best investment, Zach Wheeler

By Clint Manry

Wheeler may be a backup plan for the Phillies this offseason. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
Wheeler may be a backup plan for the Phillies this offseason. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. /
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(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

MLB Free Agents: Zack Wheeler

Let’s start with sheer talent

A former 1st round pick in 2009 by the San Francisco Giants, Wheeler is the epitome of a power pitcher. Standing at 6’4″ and 195-pounds, the Georgia native uses his long length to consistently hurl upper-90s heaters, seemingly wherever and whenever he desires.

In 2019, only three starting pitchers averaged more juice on their fastballs, two of them being Wheeler’s teammates:

Noah Syndergaard: 97.7 mph
Gerrit Cole:                 97.2 mph
Jacob deGrom:          96.9 mph
Zack Wheeler:           96.7 mph
Walker Buehler:       96.6 mph

And it’s not just Wheeler’s fastball, the righty wields a filthy slider that ranked second in average velocity in 2019 (91.2 mph) as well as the top-20 in value (per FanGraphs‘ RAA).

Matter of fact, Wheeler’s 5-pitch repertoire is quite the collection of offerings. Consider how each one of them stacks up amongst his colleagues in the National League:

FanGraphs’ RAA

  • Fastball: 8.0 RAA (13th)
  • Slider: 4.0 RAA (12th)
  • Curveball: 1.2 RAA (13th)
  • Changeup: 0.7 RAA (12th)
  • Split-finger: -1.2 RAA (4th)*

*Yu Darvish‘s 4.6 led the way — the only split-finger in the NL that rated above zero in 2019.

If a power-pitcher with an assortment of strong pitch types is your thing, Wheeler is the jack of all trades you’re looking for.

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