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Last month, the Phillies and Aaron Nola<\/a>\u2019s representatives were reportedly\u00a0<\/span>exchanging figures<\/a> about a possible long-term contract extension, creating some feeling that a new deal might be in the works. However, it doesn\u2019t look like the two sides will reach agreement, as Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told the Philadelphia Inquirer\u2019s Alex Coffey<\/a> that the two sides have ended talks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think the world of him, quality pitcher, quality human being, but sometimes you get to this point where you\u2019re not able to consummate a deal that both sides feel comfortable,\u201d Dombrowski said. \u201cWe\u2019re very open minded to trying to sign him at the end of the season. We\u2019re hopeful he\u2019ll remain a Phillie for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Joe Longo<\/a>, Nola\u2019s agent, also made a statement, telling\u00a0<\/span>Coffey<\/a> that \u201cwe had good communication with the Phillies. We just couldn\u2019t agree at this time. We\u2019ll pick up the conversation again at the end of the season.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Like most players, Nola indicated that he didn\u2019t want negotiations to stretch beyond Opening Day, as he wanted to entirely focus on baseball once the season was underway. With that unofficial deadline still five days away, it\u2019s possible that either Nola\u2019s camp or the Phillies could resume contract talks with one phone call, yet the public declarations by both Dombrowski and Longo would seemingly indicate that the matter has been put on hold.<\/p>\n Nola signed a four-year, $45M extension with Philadelphia in February 2019, and that deal became a five-year, $56.75M pact last November when the Phillies exercised their $16M club option on Nola for the 2023 season. There was no doubt that the option would be picked up, given how well Nola has pitched over his eight seasons for the reigning NL champions. The 2022 campaign saw Nola post a career-best 6.3 fWAR over 205 innings while posting a 3.25 ERA and a range of excellent secondary metrics<\/a>.<\/p>\n Between Nola\u2019s performance, durability and age (he doesn\u2019t turn 30 until June), he will be one of the top names in the 2023-24 free-agent class, let alone one of the top pitchers.\u00a0<\/span>Shohei Ohtani<\/a> is on his own level given his unique two-way status, but among regular pitchers, only\u00a0<\/span>Julio Urias<\/a> might rival Nola for the top contract given to a hurler next winter.<\/p>\n While the Phillies aren\u2019t shy about giving out big contracts, they would\u2019ve had to pay handsomely in an extension in order to retain Nola so close to his first trip to the open market. The club still retains exclusive negotiating rights with Nola until free agency officially opens (five days after the end of the World Series), yet it isn\u2019t common to see an extension struck with a top-tier player within that small window between the end of the season and the opening of the free-agent period. The Phillies would likely have to pay even more of a premium to extend Nola at that even later date.<\/p>\n That said, a reunion between the two sides shouldn\u2019t be ruled out, even if the Phillies do end up bidding against other suitors. The Phillies were able to re-sign\u00a0<\/span>J.T. Realmuto<\/a> when the catcher entered the open market during the 2020-21 offseason. Spending in free agency hasn\u2019t been an issue in general given how Philadelphia has landed the likes of\u00a0<\/span>Bryce Harper<\/a>, Trea Turner<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Zack Wheeler<\/a>, Kyle Schwarber<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Taijuan Walker<\/a> and Nick Castellanos<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to big multiyear deals. The Phillies exceeded the luxury tax in 2022 and are projected<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to exceed the second tier ($253M+) of tax penalties in 2023.<\/p>\n With Walker just signed to bolster the rotation this winter, Philadelphia has Nola under control through 2023, Wheeler through 2024, Ranger Suarez<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>through 2025 via arbitration and Walker through 2026. Between this staggered list, Suarez\u2019s relatively inexpensive price tag as an arbitration-eligible player, and the team\u2019s hopes that younger arms like Bailey Falter<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Andrew Painter<\/a> and Mick Abel<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>can provide bargain production in the near future, it stands to reason that the Phillies might pursue re-signing Nola as a hedge against Wheeler\u2019s possible departure following the 2024 campaign. Or, it is possible that by season\u2019s end, the Phillies are confident enough in their young pitching depth to let Nola leave,and recoup a draft pick as compensation. Although, the placement of that pick will fall due to the Phils\u2019 status as luxury-tax payers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n