The Philadelphia Phillies are holding up well this MLB season and have a firm grasp on the National League Wild Card spot. But looking ahead, it won't hurt to look at their options for shoring up the roster, particularly the pitching position.
Currently, the Phillies are relying on Aaron Nola for starting pitcher duties. But looking ahead, it cannot be denied that Philly may come to a point wherein they would have to move on from the All-Star pitcher, at which point they will have to skim the market for a suitable replacement.
Nola and the Phillies have yet to agree on a new deal, with contract extension talks put on hold, MLB.com reported.
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Nola contract talks shelved for now
According to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the team hopes to resume talks after the 2023 MLB season, with the 30-year-old player preferring to first focus on their current run.
That said, there is no assurance that Nola will come to terms with the Phillies on a new lease. Hence, Philadelphia may be wise to expand its options and check out other potential starting pitchers.
One name suggested is Julio Urias of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old has been having a splendid season with the Dodgers, with the Mexican baseball player owning a career 3.11 ERA with a 1.105 WHIP, according to SI.com.
The Phillies need to play the numbers game with Nola, Urias
As far as what the Phillies could offer, a six-year $145 million deal could be acceptable for a one-time World Series champion. However, this will still depend on the money Philadelphia is willing to shell out on Nola.
Urias is an option. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to the money on the table that the Phillies are willing to shell out to ensure they don't end up with a mediocre pitcher.
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