PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies offered encouraging news on Zack Wheeler’s recovery from last month’s thoracic outlet decompression surgery.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Thursday’s episode of Foul Territory that he saw Wheeler earlier this week at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler will be spending the winter in Philadelphia, rehabbing from the surgery.
“He feels no pain,” Dombrowski said on the show. “He said he feels great. … This should have cleared it up. They’re not anticipating any setbacks. Not expecting this to occur once again. So he’s in a solid position. Now, the timing will be … it was given to us from six to eight months that he will be ready. Again, he’s a gifted athlete. He’s elite with his talent, his genes. Just like Bryce [Harper] is in that regard. We’re hopeful it will be on the front end, which would even get him ready for Opening Day. But right now he’s doing very good.”
If Wheeler isn’t ready at the beginning of the season, the Phillies’ rotation could include Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and top prospect Andrew Painter.
Ranger Suárez is a free agent. The Phillies would like him back, but it’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Phillies re-sign Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Suárez.
Walker Buehler is another starter who will be a free agent following the World Series.