Pitchers on the Move

Some significant movement Thursday in baseball free agency, with both signings coming from the National League East. Cole Hamels surprised a lot of Phillies fans when he left the Cubs for a one-year $18 million dollar with the Braves. The 14 year veteran turns 36 later this month and, after three less-than-stellar seasons, likely supplies more leadership than excellence to his new team.

Within an hour, disappointment around the Delaware Valley was replaced by the double satisfaction over the signing of Zack Wheeler. The soon-to-be 30-year old cashed in on two healthy and productive seasons with the Mets for a 5-year $118 million contract with the Phillies. He brings a 97 mile an hour fastball to join Aaron Nola and, hopefully, a rejuvenated Jake Arrieta atop Joe Girardi's rotation. Reports surfaced later in the day that Wheeler could have signed for even more had he gone with the White Sox. The deciding factor might not even been baseball related: Wheeler's wife is from New Jersey and the difference in money clearly didn't outweigh family considerations. One thing more: nabbing Wheeler not only boosts the Phils, but subtracts a key arm from the division rival Mets.

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