Phillies ownership should be ashamed for shopping Zack Wheeler

The Phillies ownership group is worth close to $3.4 billion, but their offseason mentality has been utterly shameful.

Owning a professional sports team is by no means an easy task. In many cases, it is not a lucrative business model. Yet, when one takes the plunge like John Middleton has, they make a commitment to the franchise and the city in which it resides to build a winning roster. In a major market like Philadelphia, this is especially true. Middleton and Co. are on the verge of breaking that promise, and fans are rightfully displeased.

The 2020 MLB offseason poses a number of challenges, especially after owners around baseball lost a significant amount of money in a shortened 60-game campaign. Nonetheless, it’s a risk owners agreed to take on. Yet, the Phillies are acting like a small-market team without the means to build around Bryce Harper. Even worse, they’re voluntarily selling their assets.

The Phillies are shopping Zack Wheeler, and might let JT Realmuto walk

Wheeler had a tremendous season in Philly in limited time, going 4-2 with an ERA under three. He’s everything the Phillies imagined he could be when they stole him from the rival Mets via a five-year, $118 million deal. Realmuto, meanwhile, is expected to command a contract that will rival Joe Mauer’s for the richest ever signed by a catcher.

It’s a lot of money, but the Phillies have among the richest owners in the sport.

To be fair, the Phillies have denied this report. It’s tough to know exactly who to believe in this situation, but why exactly would anyone lie about Wheeler being on the trading block?

Even if it’s merely to listen to offers, the Phillies are wasting their time and have the wrong mentality this offseason. When they signed Bryce Harper to his mega-contract, they were opting into building a winner around him.

Not only have they failed Harper, but the fans as well with their penny pinching this offseason.