Phillies focus on extending Zack Wheeler's contract.

The Phillies really want to keep their top pitcher, Zack Wheeler. They want to give him a new contract before he becomes a free agent next year. 

So far, the Phillies have been very happy with Zack Wheeler's performance. Since 2020, he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. In his time with the Phillies, he's shown great skill both in regular games and playoff matches.

Even though Wheeler is getting older (he'll be 34 soon), he's been mostly healthy and played well. He had a small arm issue in 2022 but came back strong. Because of his great performance, other teams will want him when he becomes a free agent. His agents might ask the Phillies for a higher price to keep him.

The Phillies have spent a lot of money on good players recently. But they haven't given many big contracts like the one Wheeler might ask for. They have kept some key players like Nola and Realmuto, but they waited until these players became free agents before resigning them.

Just a short while ago, Nola signed a big contract with the Phillies. Now, he will be with the team for many years. The Phillies already have some players signed for many years to come. If they give Wheeler a new contract, it will add to their big spending. But the team's owner is okay with spending a lot as long as it helps them win.

It seems the Phillies have made most of their big decisions for the season. They tried to sign another player, Yamamoto, but he chose to join another team. The team's leader, Dombrowski, felt they made a good effort to get him.

Looking ahead, Dombrowski said they will focus on smaller changes to their team. They might add some relief pitchers and other backup players. They don't plan to add another main outfielder because they have many good options already.