Is Zack Wheeler Worth $5.6 million More Than Cole Hamels?

There were two large signings involving starting pitchers in Major League Baseball on Wednesday. The Philadelphia Phillies signed Zack Wheeler to a five year contract worth $118 million and the Atlanta Braves signed Cole Hamels to a one year contract worth $18 million. That means that Wheeler will be making $23.6 million this season, and $5.6 million more than Hamels. Is Wheeler worth that much more to the Mets than Hamels is to the Braves? Let’s take a look at the statistics.

In 2019, Wheeler had a record of 11 wins and eight losses, an earned run average of 3.96 and a WHIP of 1.26. In 195 1/3 innings pitched, he had 195 strikeouts, and gave up 50 walks, 196 hits and 86 earned runs. Wheeler has played five seasons with the Mets and has been productive as he has an earned run average under four in four seasons.

However, Wheeler has had a history of elbow problems. He missed all of 2015 and 2016 due to Tommy John Surgery and was ineffective in 2017 with an earned run average of 5.21 in 17 games with New York.

Hamels had a record of seven wins and seven losses with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. He had a better-earned run average than Wheeler at 3.81, but a higher WHIP at 1.39. In 141 2/3 innings, Hamels had 143 strikeouts and gave up 56 walks, 141 hits and 60 earned runs.

The statistical lines are extremely close. Both pitchers averaged a strikeout an inning and gave up a hit an inning. So why would the Phillies pay Wheeler $5.6 million more than Hamels, when Hamels has had no significant injury in his career?

My best guess is it comes down to their age. Hamels is six and a half years older than Wheeler and probably has a shorter shelf life. Ironically Hamels spent a decade with the Phillies and was the 2008 World Series MVP in Philadelphia before playing three and a half seasons with the Texas Rangers and a season and a half with the Cubs.

Hamels, a four-time All-Star, is also taking a small pay cut. He made $20 million last year in Chicago and now returns to the National League East where he will be battling Wheeler and the Phillies, along with the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals, for a division title.