The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Aaron Nola to a massive $172 million contract.
The NL East team has reached a seven-year agreement with the pitcher.
A top free-agent pitcher in Major League Baseball has secured a new contract, marking a major development in the offseason market.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Aaron Nola have made a significant deal, locking in a seven-year, $172 million contract.
According to The Post’s Jon Heyman, a Phillies pitcher has just made history by signing the franchise’s most lucrative contract for his position.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal for Nola, a highly regarded right-handed pitcher, to continue his career with the Phillies is pending the customary physical examination. The deal does not include an opt-out clause or team option.
Despite receiving interest from other teams, including the Braves, Nola chose to turn down potentially higher-paying offers in order to stay committed to Philadelphia, a goal he had publicly stated prior to the offseason.
Following the Phillies’ defeat in Game 7 of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks, Nola took a moment to consider the fleeting nature of professional sports. He acknowledged the difficulties of building and sustaining relationships within such a dynamic environment. He is committed to staying in Philadelphia because he wants to maintain continuity in the constantly changing team dynamics.
What is the significance of Nola for the Phillies?
Since being drafted by the Phillies in 2014, Nola has become one of the most reliable starting pitchers in the league, consistently pitching an average of 200 innings per season since 2018. He is among the elite pitchers with a 26.0 WAR over the span, trailing only Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Zack Wheeler, and Jacob deGrom.
Despite a slight performance drop in the 2023 season, with a 12-9 record and a 4.46 ERA, Nola’s underlying statistics indicate that his disappointing numbers may be due to unfortunate circumstances rather than a decrease in ability.
Nola’s contract, after placing fourth in Cy Young voting in 2022, is the first major signing for a free-agent pitcher this offseason, setting the stage for future player deals.
