""I don't think he'll be ready for Opening Day but it's not going to be too far beyond that," Thomson told reporters (link via Paul Casella of MLB.com)."
""When our scouts go out there, that'll be one of our focuses. And we may develop that internally, too; there's some guys that we do like. But that'll be a focus of ours, is starting pitching depth," Dombrowski said."
"The 35-year-old righty is throwing from flat ground and "doing well" in the manager's words, yet the Phils are obviously going to be cautious with the three-time All-Star."
Zack Wheeler is recovering from thoracic outlet surgery that ended his 2025 season, with a six- to eight-month recovery timeline from the end of September that clouds his availability for early 2026. Manager Rob Thomson said Wheeler likely will not be ready for Opening Day but should return not long after; Wheeler is throwing from flat ground and "doing well" but has not resumed mound work. With Wheeler injured and Ranger Suárez departed in free agency, the Phillies have a thinner rotation. President Dave Dombrowski said starting pitching depth will be a spring focus via scouting, internal development, and potential trades given a slow free-agent market.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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