Aaron Nola may have been on the free agent market, but he always had the Philadelphia Phillies tattooed on his heart. In the last few days, we were saying that he would possibly sign a new agreement with the Pennsylvania team shortly.
And now it happened. We are talking about a seven-year contract and $172 million in total.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native completed his ninth season in a Phillies uniform in 2023, his only team since his career began in 2015. Going 90-71 since that time, he represents stability in within a team that has experienced ups and downs in recent seasons.
Even if Zack Wheeler seems to have become the team’s number one pitcher for several years, the fact remains that Nola is the favorite pitcher of the team’s fans and this element must be very present in the heads of the managers of the team. training during this crucial time.
This morning, Bob Nightengale raised the possibility of him staying.
It was reasonable to believe that the two parties would agree on the clauses of a new agreement before the next meeting of major baseball leaders scheduled in Nashville, the first weekend of December. That’s what happened.
We know that the Phillies benefit from a favorable window of opportunity at the moment and the team’s management must capitalize every time they can. Signing Aaron Nola for the next few years proves to be a wise investment considering that the pitcher is experienced and his arm is still capable of providing very good service to Rob Thomson’s lineup.
The Phillies were upset by the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, ending their playoff run. In 2022, they admitted defeat in the World Series, against the Houston Astros.
The fact that players like Nola, Wheeler, Schwarber, Harper, Realmuto and Turner represent very real threats provides a few more years of good baseball for the team’s fans and the chance to win the World Series in the short term.
Their simple presence allows the youngest to gain experience in a winning context. A pitcher of the caliber of Ranger Suarez can only progress and possibly take the place of a Wheeler or a Nola within the rotation.
You can count on the Phillies to compete again with the Atlanta Braves for the National East title in 2024 and the possibility of going a long way in the playoffs.
Over the past two seasons, Nola’s playoff record is five wins against three losses. His earned run average rose to 3.70 during this period, in nine starts.
