Aaron Nola decided to remain with the squad that selected him in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball amateur draft. The right-handed pitcher and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $172 million.
Before signing this massive deal, Nola had played ten seasons for the Phillies. He is a significant reason for their resurgence because of his consistent presence and production from the mound. The Louisiana native has received votes for the National League Cy Young Award three times, finishing as high as third place in 2018.
Aaron Nola and the Phillies have agreed to a tentative deal to keep Nola in Philly pic.twitter.com/Ag6O1pf5bY
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 19, 2023
It was also the same year he became an All-Star and a vote recipient for the NL Most Valuable Player award. In the 2023 MLB season, Nola finished with a 12-9 record with 202 strikeouts in 193.2 innings pitched.
In the 2022 and 2023 postseason, Nola threw 48.2 innings in nine playoff starts. He has a 90-71 career record with a 3.72 ERA, thanks mainly to his fastball and curveball.
Over the last six seasons, Nola had the most starts for a pitcher with 175. He is also 11.1 innings behind 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole for most innings pitched over that stretch. Nola’s durability despite extended pitching stints made him a desirable free agent.
The Atlanta Braves tried to pry Nola away from the Phillies. However, he chose to stay in the City of Brotherly Love after signing the most lucrative pitcher contract in Phillies history. His efforts helped the squad reach the 2022 World Series and the 2023 National League Championship Series.
Nola’s new deal makes him the sixth Phillies player with a nine-figure contract. Fellow pitcher Zack Wheeler signed a five-year, $118 million deal in 2019, while Nick Castellanos agreed to a five-year, $100 million deal last year.
J.T. Realmuto (five years, $115.5 million), Trea Turner (11-year, $300 million), and Bryce Harper (13-year, $330 million) also have nine-figure contracts with the Phillies.
-Lance Fernandez