If the Phillies are unable to retain Aaron Nola, they have three free-agent pitchers on their radar.
Pitcher Aaron Nola is a free agent that the Philadelphia Phillies wish to retain. But what if they are unable to?
The New York Post reports that the Phillies have choices.
Three pitches could be on the Phillies’ radar if they swing and miss on Nola: Blake Snell of San Diego, Sonny Gray of Minnesota, and Eduardo Rodriguez of Detroit.
Similar to Nola, Snell declined his qualifying offer in order to become a free agent. Snell has a Cy Young, not Nola. He actually has two, as he was one of only seven pitchers in each league to win a Cy Young award after winning his second one earlier this week.
After going 14-9 with an MLB-best 2.25 ERA, Snell received almost all of the first-place votes for the 2023 NL Cy Young Award. He has now led the Majors in ERA twice.
In 2018, he achieved a 21-5 record with a 1.89 ERA while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays. That season, he was awarded the American League Cy Young.
Although he is the best backup option, his contract demands could be on par with or even greater than Nola’s due to the presence of two Cy Youngs.
This season in the American League, Gray was a finalist for the Cy Young Award and declined his qualifying offer as well. He went 8-8 in 32 starts in 2023 with a 2.79 ERA, helping the Twins win the AL Central. A MLB-low 0.4 home runs were given up by him per nine innings.
He might not sign a long-term contract at age 33. With a 3.47 ERA, 98-85 career record, 1,521 strikeouts, and 544 walks in 1,571 innings pitched, he could, however, be able to secure a big two- or three-year contract with options.
This season in the American League, Gray was a finalist for the Cy Young Award and declined his qualifying offer as well. He went 8-8 in 32 starts in 2023 with a 2.79 ERA, helping the Twins win the AL Central. A MLB-low 0.4 home runs were given up by him per nine innings.
He might not sign a long-term contract at age 33. With a 3.47 ERA, 98-85 career record, 1,521 strikeouts, and 544 walks in 1,571 innings pitched, he could, however, be able to secure a big two- or three-year contract with options.