The Atlanta Braves are said to be strong contenders to sign Nola.

 

 

The Philadelphia Phillies will face stiff competition when it comes to signing or re-signing Aaron Nola.

Nola is one of the most sought-after starting pitchers available on the MLB free agent market this winter. Depending on whatever executive you speak with, this could be the best option.

The Phillies have indicated publicly that they would love to get Nola back. The righty has indicated his desire to remain with the Phillies. However, not every business ends with a happy ending.

However, new speculations have Nola linked to the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia’s National League East foe.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Nola is an intriguing fit for the Braves.

As Rosenthal points out, there are numerous links that could work in both parties’ favor when it comes to reaching an agreement.

“Of the pitchers available, righty Aaron Nola is perhaps the most intriguing fit,” Rosenthal writes in his article. “Nola is friends with Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2016 to 2018.” And, as a Baton Rouge native who attended LSU, he may choose to sign with a team in the south.”

Nola could want to move closer to home so he can play in front of family and friends more regularly. Given the lack of an MLB team in Baton Rouge (or New Orleans for that matter), the Braves are the closest franchise in the region.

What effect this would have on Nola’s decision-making is unknown.

 

 

He has spent his whole career with the Phillies, has endeared himself to the fan base, and has been a vital part of the team’s turnaround in recent seasons.

The signing of Nola by Atlanta would be a gut punch. The Phillies would not only lose their ace, but he would also land up in the hands of their biggest divisional foe.

The reaction of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to the situation will be telling.

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Braves linked to probable Aaron Nola free agent pursuit

This offseason, there are some big name free agents on the market around MLB, and one of the biggest is Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola. There is still a strong possibility that Nola will return to Philadelphia in free agency, but there are a slew of teams interested in him, including the Phillies’ National League East opponent, the Atlanta Braves.

 

 

The Braves have a lot of depth in their starting rotation, but they have recognized top-end pitching talent as one of their most pressing needs as they aim to return to the World Series. Nola would undoubtedly be a good fit for them, and while it has been observed that Atlanta rarely gives out large contracts for elite players, they may be willing to deviate from that tendency for Nola.

“One of the most remarkable aspects of the Atlanta Braves is that none of their long-term contracts have a salary of more than $22 million.” However, the Braves are willing to go higher in free agency for the right starting pitcher…Righty Aaron Nola is likely the most intriguing option among the available pitchers. Nola has a good relationship with Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2016 to 2018. And, as a Baton Rouge native who attended LSU, he may choose to sign with a team in the south.” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal

The Braves had a strong starting rotation last season, but top-tier talent has been limited by injuries and inconsistency.

 

 

Spencer Strider is an ace, as is Max Fried, despite pitching in only 14 games last season. Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder are solid middle-of-the-rotation types, but guys like Kyle Wright and Michael Soroka, who were both formerly crucial components of the rotation, were terrible last year.

Nola would come in and immediately make it so that Atlanta doesn’t have to hope that Wright or Soroka will find their way. Even better, Nola is a proven playoff stud, which would be a tremendous boost for a Braves team that has been eliminated in the NLDS by Nola and the Phillies the last two years. There will be a lot of competition for Nola’s services, but the Braves would have a strong pitch if they opted to go all-in on him.