Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent pitcher Aaron Nola to a new seven-year contract on Sunday.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is reportedly worth $172 million.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com previously reported contract talks between the Phillies and Nola were "gaining steam" and "heating up"

With the Phillies in the market for a starting pitcher and Nola one of the top options available, a reunion between the sides made plenty of sense.

Nola, 30, has spent his entire nine-year MLB with the Phillies. While he didn't have a signature year in 2023 (12-9 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 193.2 innings), he was fantastic for most of the postseason, putting together a 3-1 record with a 2.35 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in four starts.

He's posted five seasons in his career with 180 or more innings and five seasons with 200 or more strikeouts, with a career 3.72 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.

The 2018 All-Star is in many ways the polar opposite of another pitcher the Phillies had been linked to this offseason, Blake Snell, who has excellent stuff and has won two Cy Young awards but has only pitched 180 or more innings twice in his career and rarely pitches through the sixth inning.

The move not only returns Nola to the only franchise he's ever known, it also kept him from a division rival, with Passan reporting that the Atlanta Braves "were a real threat to poach" him.

It's also another indication that the Phillies are all-in on winning a title after reaching the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS this past season.

The Phillies likely aren't done making other deals—upgrading the outfield would make sense, and bullpen arms are always a necessity—but locking down a No. 2 option behind Zack Wheeler in the rotation was the priority. Nola's signing addresses that need and sets the pitching market this offseason.

The most highly-touted Japanese player to enter MLB since Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to be posted Monday, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. That means teams will have 45 days to negotiate with the star right-hander beginning Tuesday.

Yamamoto, 25, has been one of the most dominant players in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past several years, becoming the star of the Orix Buffaloes while winning nearly every major individual award.

He is expected to be pursued by nearly every major contender in MLB.

It's no surprise seeing why Yamamoto is so highly-coveted. He is a two-time Pacific League MVP, a three-time Japanese triple crown winner and the recipient of the Eiji Sawamura award—given to the top NPB pitcher—each of the last three campaigns.

Over the course of his professional career he's amassed a 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA.

MLB scouts got an up close look at him back in the spring as he was a part of Japan's World Baseball Classic winning squad. In his two appearances he racked up a 2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.

Naturally, there will be plenty of competition for Yamamoto from the biggest teams in the league. The New York Yankees, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are interested, per SNY's Andy Martino.

It appears that the Philadelphia Phillies also have their eye on the potential star if starter Aaron Nola doesn't re-sign with the team in free agency.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, some people around the league believe that Yamamoto may prefer a team on the West Coast due to its closer proximity to Japan. That means teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres can't be ruled out either.

The Philadelphia Phillies are "strongly considering" right-handed starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto if Aaron Nola doesn't re-sign with the team in free agency, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"If he doesn't, the Phillies are strongly considering right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a top-of-the-rotation starter to sign in free agency," Coffey wrote.

"Like many teams, the Phillies have sent scouts to see Yamamoto, but sources say their interest in him is far from cursory."

"They've done significant work on Yamamoto," a National League scout told Coffey. "Most teams have sent scouts to see him, but I would say the Phillies should be considered one of the top five or six suitors for his services."

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has previously said re-signing Nola is the team's No. 1 priority.

However, there's significant interest around the league in Nola. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers all have a level of interest in Nola.

The Athletic's Jayson Stark also reported that he believes Nola could command a seven-year deal north of $200 million.

With all that in mind, it's certainly possible Nola heads elsewhere this offseason, perhaps leading to Philadelphia entering the bidding war for Yamamoto.

The 25-year-old Yamamoto has been nothing short of tremendous during his seven-year stint with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, going 70-29 with a 1.72 ERA (0.92 WHIP) and 9.3 K/9 rate. He's a two-time Pacific League MVP who just starred for Japan en route to its World Baseball Classic title, as well.

Of course, there will be competition for Yamamoto, with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox also interested, per SNY's Andy Martino.

Ultimately, it's no secret the Phillies will be going after starting pitching. They have a top-of-the-rotation pitcher already in Zack Wheeler but will need someone in the No. 2 spot if Nola walks. Yamamoto is obviously a top option, but there are a host of free-agent arms available this year.

Right now, it's clear Nola is the Phillies' top option, but if that falls through, then it'll be interesting to see if Philadelphia can overcome some stiff competition to land Yamamoto.

Free agent right-handed starting pitcher Aaron Nola could get a seven-year deal this offseason.

"Rival executives say they wouldn't be surprised to see the bidding for Nola push him to a seven-year deal, likely at a higher average annual value than what the Phillies offered last spring," The Athletic's Jayson Stark reported.

Per Stark, "it's reasonable to think" Philadelphia sent Nola, who has been with Philadelphia for nine campaigns, an initial offer "in the range of six years, $150 million" last offseason.

However, Stark added that multiple MLB sources told him the Phillies and Nola "were not even remotely close back then" on negotiations, leading the reporter to posit that the pitcher wanted "a seven-year extension for north of $200 million, possibly well north."

The 6'2, 200-pound Nola, who turns 31 next June, has gone 90-71 with a 3.72 ERA (1.13 WHIP) and 10.0 K/9 rate through nine MLB campaigns. He's finished top seven in the NL Cy Young voting three times and made the 2018 NL All-Star team as well.

Nola has notably been durable throughout the course of his career, posting at least 32 starts in the last five non-pandemic seasons (2018-2019, 2021-2023). He's averaged 193 innings over the past three years.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has called re-signing Nola the team's No. 1 priority, per Stark. The issue is that the Phillies should have good competition just to bring him back into the mix.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals are "among teams showing early interest" in Nola right now.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today previously reported that the Cardinals, Braves, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers all have interest too.

He also said that general managers "believe that the Phillies will let Nola walk, and will turn their attention to Blake Snell, who's about to win his second Cy Young award."

Not only that, but Nola is a top priority for others as well, with The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writing that "a number of other clubs consider him a primary target."

Nola just had a down year by his standards, going 12-9 record with a 4.46 ERA and 32 home runs allowed. However, he did post 202 strikeouts in 193.2 innings and excelled in the playoffs with 3-1 record (2.35 ERA) and 23 strikeouts in 23 frames.

Ultimately, Nola could very well get a seven-year deal in free agency given his past success and durability. The interest in his services appears to be there, including from his old team, and he shouldn't have an issue landing a lucrative contract in return.

At least one Major League Baseball executive believes Nick Castellanos will be back with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024 despite trade rumors.

"I'd be shocked if someone called on him, to be honest, because that's just not a good contract," the executive said, per Jayson Stark of The Athletic. "And I'd guess that if somebody did, they'd say yes in five seconds."

Castellanos is under contract through the 2026 campaign and set to make $20 million in base salary in each of the next three seasons.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com previously reported this offseason that the Phillies were "open to the idea of trading" the outfielder in part because of his "streaky ways and disappointing performance in the NLCS."

He hit a meager .042 in the National League Championship Series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yet that glosses over how impactful he was for the Phillies last season as an All-Star who slashed .272/.311/.476 with 29 home runs, 106 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 157 games. He also isn't far removed from his Silver Slugger season in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds and wasn't a complete loss in the playoffs.

After all, he launched four home runs in the National League Division Series win over the rival Atlanta Braves.

There are some concerns with Castellanos that go beyond his contract. He was responsible for minus-nine defensive runs saved above average last season, per FanGraphs, and has never been an excellent fielder.

That likely won't change during his age-32 season in 2024, so there is an element of risk in trading for him and putting him in right field for the next three years.

It is also a hefty contract for a streaky player who just disappointed on a big stage in his most recent showing in the 2023 playoffs.

That contract may prevent any trade from becoming a reality.

Veteran starting pitcher Aaron Nola is entering free agency for the first time, and he's reportedly drawing interest from a pair of National League teams hoping to pry him away from the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals are "among teams showing early interest" in Nola this offseason.

The Phillies made Nola a qualifying offer worth $20.3 million for the 2024 season, and he has until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to decide whether he will accept it. The expectation is that he will reject it in hopes of securing a multiyear deal, and Philadelphia will receive a compensatory draft pick if he chooses to sign with another team.

"We love him," Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said recently. "He's been tremendous for the franchise. He's pitched very well for a number of years. He's a Phillie. We hope to retain him, but if we don't to me that would be our No. 1 area – we would need to replace him. We need to be in position where we have somebody else that will be a starting pitcher of quality in the rotation. So, yes, it's either Aaron or somebody else."

While Atlanta has been Nola's biggest rival for his nine major league seasons in Philadelphia, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted on Monday that he is "perhaps the most intriguing fit" for the Braves this offseason. The 30-year-old is "close" with Braves pitching coach Rich Kranitz, who served as bullpen coach with the Phillies in 2016 and 2017 before being elevated to pitching coach in 2018.

Nola is coming off a down year this past season, finishing with a 12-9 record, a 4.46 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 193.2 innings of work. Still, he is capable of being a reliable starter in the right situation and likely will be one of the most coveted pitchers on the market this winter.

The Philadelphia Phillies are not looking to trade right fielder Nick Castellanos and rightfully so.

ESPN's Buster Olney, citing a source within the organization, reported, "They aren't interested in moving Nick Castellanos. They consider him an important part of the team and value his production, and have no intention of trading him."

The report came on the heels of one from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, who surprised the baseball world on November 9 when he revealed the team was open to dealing the star right fielder.

Regardless of the intel that prompted Feinsand to file his report, or if Philadelphia did indeed think about it for a moment, the team not shipping out a player that has been such a key part of the organization's identity is the right call.

Since joining the Phillies, he has belted 42 home runs, driven in 168 RBIs, and stolen 18 bases. His slash line in 2023 was .272/.311/.476, all significant improvements from the season before.

Defensively, he accumulated a 1.000 fielding percentage.

His five home runs in the 2023 postseason were tied with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber and helped sustain the explosive Phillies offense that helped them return to the NLCS for the second, consecutive year.

In the NLDS against divisional foes Atlanta, he made history by becoming the first player to hit multiple home runs in consecutive playoff games.

Beyond his on-field play, the swagger with which he carries himself is reflected in how the team attacks every game. Nothing is too big for him, he knows he can play the game, and he does not have time for nonsense.

Sometimes it can be construed as flippancy, others as attitude, but Castellanos is not bothered by the noise. He plays baseball, extremely well, and has developed into one of the cornerstones of a Phillies team that is very capable of winning a World Series every season.

Take him away from that and the team loses not only a big-game hitter and superb fielder, but they lose one of the tone-setters for a team that still has championship aspirations and the talent to realize them.

The Chicago Cubs see Philadelphia Phillies free agent Rhys Hoskins as a "good fit for their roster," according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma.

Hoskins, who did not play in 2023 after tearing his ACL during spring training, is looking for a bounce-back season.

That could make him the perfect match for the Cubs, who are looking to "add an impact player with postseason experience without having to go long on a contract," per Mooney and Sharma.

Hoskins helped the Phillies reach the World Series in 2022 with six home runs and 12 RBI in 17 postseason games. He could help fill in at Chicago's first base if Cody Bellinger leaves in free agency.

Hoskins' agent Scott Boras said earlier this week he saw "potential for a pillow contract" for his client.

A "pillow contract," a term coined by Boras himself, means a "comfortable" one-year deal, according to the agent.

That's what Boras said Hoskins earned when he worked out with the Phillies organization in Clearwater, Florida during the 2023 postseason in the hope of returning to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS.

Hoskins did not end up returning, and the Phillies lost in seven games to the D-backs, but Boras said the experience left Hoskins "way ahead" in his ACL recovery.

"Basically, Rhys got a chance to really get ramped up almost to be World Series ready in Clearwater because the Phillies wanted to add him to their World Series roster," Boras told reporters earlier this week. "So he is way ahead in his conditioning and really very much back to full speed."

That might not be enough to earn Hoskins a bid from the Phillies, who announced earlier this week that Bryce Harper would be taking over full-time at first base, per The Athletic's Brendan Kuty.

It could, however, be enough to attract the Cubs, whose gamble on another player in need of a bounce-back campaign paid off in 2023.

Chicago's one-year bet on Cody Bellinger, who was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after a series of injuries and inconsistent performances, paid off as Bellinger recorded a Silver Slugger-caliber campaign in 2023. The club could hope for a similar result if Hoskins is playing for his next contract on a one-year deal.

Hoskins was projected to need a recovery time of seven to nine months, so is scheduled on the outside to be ready to go by January.