Phillies, Nola Agree to Multi-Year Extension

For a Clearwater day, it was cold and rainy on the day that was to be the first official workout of pitchers and catchers in Phillies Spring Training camp.  But despite 59 degrees and rain, the Phillies were able to work one bright spot into the day.  The Phillies locked up ace pitcher Aaron Nola.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the Phillies and Nola had agreed to a four-year contract, with a club option for a fifth year.  Nola had three years remaining of club control from his rookie contract, and all three are now settled.  The Phillies end up with up to two more years in their hands.

Passan reports the numbers as follows:

• 2019: $4 million salary plus a $2 million signing bonus
• 2020: $8 million
• 2021: $11.75 million
• 2022: $15 million
• 2023: $16 million club option with $4.25 million buyout

All in all that is a $45 million guarantee.

Nola was set to go to salary arbitration with the Phillies tomorrow. Salary arbitration is generally not seen as a pleasant experience for the player and has led to damaged relationships between players and the club in the past.  No Phillies player has gone to arbitration since Ryan Howard in 2008.