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SPORTS Tuesday 21 November 2023

Nola’s $172 million, 7-year deal with Phillies includes bonus if

traded in 2024 or ‘25

By AARON BRACY durable.”
Associated Press Nola is 90-71 with a 3.72
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aar- ERA in 235 starts over nine
on Nola wanted to stay seasons and has 1,582
with the Philadelphia Phil- strikeouts in 1,422 innings.
lies. He had his best season in
“I’ve always been a Phillie. 2018, when he went 17-6
It’s the only place we kind with a career-low 2.37 ERA
of had our eyes set on,” in 33 starts and a career-
Nola said Monday at Citi- high 212 1/3 innings.
zens Bank Park, a day af- He would get a $1 million
ter agreeing to a $172 mil- assignment bonus if traded
lion, seven-year contract. in 2024 or 2025. During the
“It’s the most comfortable 2025 season, Nola will be-
place for me.” come a 10-year veteran
Nola became the first top- who has spent five years
level free agent to reach a with his team and will have
deal. The 30-year-old right- the right to block trades
hander was drafted sev- without his consent.
enth overall by Philadel- Nola gets a suite on road
phia in 2014 and has been trips and would earn
one of the most durable $50,000 bonuses for making
pitchers since his 2015 big the All-Star team, winning
league debut. a Gold Glove or becoming
“Enjoyable and not enjoy- League Championship Se-
able at the same time,” he ries MVP. He would receive
said of free agency, “Not Philadelphia Phillies baseball team pitcher Aaron Nola takes questions from the media after $100,000 for World Series
really about the money. signing a seven-year contract, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Philadelphia. MVP.
Being in a place we want Associated Press Nola also would get
to be for the next seven $100,000 for winning a Cy
years. That part is more im- “It was kind of tough at the “Stick to my routine and make myself healthy and Young Award, $50,000 for
portant for me. We want- end of the year,” Nola said. what I’ve done up to this stay healthy. I hope I age finishing second in the vot-
ed to go through and see Nola went 12-9 with a 4.46 point,” Nola said. “I have well, for sure. I’m going to ing and $25,000 for third.q
what it’s about, but ulti- ERA in 32 starts with Phila- some ways I feel like I can do everything I can to stay
mately this is the place we delphia this year, finishing
wanted to be.” with 202 strikeouts in 193
After earning $16 million 2/3 innings, then went 3-1
this year in a contract that with a 2.35 ERA in four post-
paid $56.75 million over five season starts.
seasons, Nola will get year- After losing a six-game
ly salaries of $24,571,428. World Series to Houston
“We have one of the best in 2022, the Phillies were
pitchers in baseball that eliminated by Arizona in
really fits into our ball- a seven-game NL Cham-
club,” Phillies president of pionship Series this year
baseball operations Dave after winning the first two
Dombrowski said. “Some- games.
times you have to make “We’ve gotten pretty
compromises, you have close,” he said.
to go to certain length. “We obviously have the
You weigh the dollars and team to do it. It’s every-
length of contract, an indi- body’s in the organiza-
vidual that’s talented, tre- tion’s goal to do that. That
mendous pitcher, reliable, was a big reason I came
you know the makeup of back.”
the individual, extremely Nola is part of a projected
hard worker. rotation that includes Zack
“We want to win. We want Wheeler, Taijuan Walker,
to make it happen, and Ranger Suárez and Cristo-
sometimes you have to pher Sánchez.
compromise.” “We like our five starters
Nola and wife Hunter are and look like we’re set,”
expecting their first child. Dombrowski said.
He said he blocked out Nola has made at least 32
pending free agency dur- starts and pitched at least
ing the season, but the 180 2/3 innings in five of the
reality that he might not last six years the exception
pitch again in Philadelphia the pandemic-shortened
hit him after the season. 2020 season.