Two frontline starters on the White Sox radar dropped off on Wednesday.
Zack Wheeler signed a reported five-year, $120 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, (the final number seems in dispute) while Cole Hamels took $18 million for a year in Atlanta.
Wheeler had been long connected to the White Sox. Speculation ran rampant last week that the Yolmer Sánchez DFA was intended to clear a spot for a looming Wheeler signing.
It appears that the White Sox did not “Machado” this deal, however:
#WhiteSox’s offer to Wheeler was for MORE than the $118M he will receive from the #Phillies, sources tell The Athletic.