The Philadelphia Phillies will start Aaron Nola on Opening Day. But the team’s ace will be starting without a new contract.
On Friday, the Phillies announced that Nola would take the mound for the team’s first game of the season for the sixth straight season. As Philadelphia prepares to battle Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers to kick off the 2023 season next week, the team has officially broken off conversations with the star pitcher’s camp regarding a contract extension, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alex Coffey.
“We think the world of him, quality pitcher, quality human being, but sometimes you get to the point where you’re not able to consummate a deal that both sides feel comfortable,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said of Nola, via Coffey on Twitter.
Dombrowski added, “We’re very open-minded to trying to sign him at the end of the season. We’re hopeful that he’ll remain a Phillie for a long time.”
More Dombrowski: "We're very open minded to trying to sign him at the end of the season. We're hopeful he'll remain a Phillie for a long time."
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) March 25, 2023
Nola’s agent, Joe Longo, also put out a statement.
“We had good communication with the Phillies,” he said. “We just couldn’t agree at this time. We’ll pick up the conversation again at the end of the season.”
Statement from Aaron Nola's agent, Joe Longo:
"We had good communication with the Phillies. We just couldn’t agree at this time. We’ll pick up the conversation again at the end of the season." https://t.co/85C9gZmTJy
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) March 25, 2023
The Phillies opened contract talks with Nola back in February, but the two sides ultimately couldn’t agree before the season. The 29-year-old Nola, who is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, boasted a 3.25 ERA last season after striking out 235 batters in 205 innings with only 29 walks.
The MLB world reacted to the news that the Phillies put contract talks with their star pitcher on hold.
It is obviously not great that the Phillies and Aaron Nola apparently won't be able to agree to an extension prior to the season's start — but it's worth a reminder that the Phillies and J.T. Realmuto endured the same issue not two years ago.
There's still a whole season ahead.
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) March 25, 2023
Aaron Nola is the best starting pitcher in the 2023-24 free agent class by a considerable margin (not counting Ohtani because he’s a 2-way player). He was likely never signing before he hit free agency.
— Jordan (@FRESHticles) March 25, 2023
For what it's worth, I don't think the Phillies let Aaron Nola walk. He is the perfect veteran anchor to a rotation that is slated to add a lot of youth over the next few years.
He is among the most durable, dependable, well-rounded arms in the game. Can't let that go.
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) March 25, 2023
While I was hopeful for a Nola extension, I wasn’t confident. There’s not much out there in free agency this winter, he’s going to get paid. https://t.co/4sCqAclnKc
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) March 25, 2023
While Nola’s future with the Phillies is a bit murky at the moment, he’ll likely earn a massive payday this offseason. Whether it’s with Philadelphia or another team.
[Alex Coffey on Twitter]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.