2021 player previews: Zack Wheeler

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Zack Wheeler turned in a strong debut season for the Phillies in 2020The Phillies were in desperate need of rotation help heading into the 2020 season, and general manager Matt Klentak’s primary means of addressing that need was signing Zack Wheeler to a free agent contract. At the time, many people thought the Phillies had overpaid Wheeler. It felt like the Phillies had paid top-of-the-rotation price for a guy who had largely been a mid-rotation starter.

Klentak might have made some mistakes in building his bullpen last year, but when it came to the big rotation move, he seemed to get it right. Wheeler was very good in 2020, and along with Aaron Nola, the…