10:36AM: reports that the Phillies and Aaron Nola are moving closer on a reunion. The and also confirmed Nightengales report that talks between the sides have heated up in recent days. 9:55AM: The Phillies and right-hander have a desire to see the righty ace return to Philadelphia on a long-term deal this offseason, dating back to before Nola was even officially a free agent. indicated this morning that theres reason for optimism regarding a deal coming together between the two sides, noting that contract talks between the sides have gained significant momentum in recent days. That, of course, doesnt mean that an agreement between the two sides is imminent or even nece sarily Demarco Boyd Jersey close, but its a notable development nonethele s. After all, it was just last week that reporting from indicated the sides were to a new deal while suggested that Phillies may not to retain Nola, adding that interest from rival clubs made a seventh year on Nolas contract po sible. Thats a level the Phillies reportedly in extension talks last spring, though its po sible that the club has changed its tune since then. Nightengales report goes on to suggest that Nolas camp is seeking a seven-year, $210MM deal while the Phillies have countered with a six-year, $150MM offer at this point. Those price points are substantially closer than the four-to-five year pact that the Phillies reportedly offered Nola last offseason and the eight-year counter from Nolas camp. That apparent progre s in reaching a deal appears all the more encouraging with Nightengale suggesting that the sides are getting close to finding a middle ground between the two figures. With one year and $60MM separating the two offers, theres plenty of room for the sides to meet somewhere in the middle. Of note, the Phillies reported offer to Nola comes in just $12MM under the total guarantee left-hander secured from the Yankees last offseason over the same term, meaning virtually any movement from Philadelphia would allow Nola to secure a guarantee above that of Rodon. Speculatively speaking, the Phillies could offer Nola a higher AAV than Rodon over the same term if theyre unwilling to offer a seven-year deal to Nola, who will celebrate his 31st birthday next summer. Such a deal could fall in the $168MM to $180MM range in terms of total guarantee. A seven-year pact would see Nola turn 37 in the final year of the deal. Thats an age the Phillies have shown a willingne s to sign position players through: superstar first baseman and marquee shortstop are signed through their age-38 and -40 seasons, respectively. That being said, the club hasnt shown the same appetite for deals that would take pitchers into their late thirties. signed with the club on a five-year deal to become Nolas co-ace in the Phillies rotation, though that deal will see him hit the open market next offseason following his age-34 campaign. Thats the same age former Phillies lefty was signed through when he extended with the club back in 2012. Even a six-year pact would be breaking new ground for the Phillies; while the club signed Hall of Famer through his age-36 season, that deal was for just three years and $60MM. Thats a far cry from the nine-figure deal Nola figures to land. Whats more, any movement from the Phillies current price point of six years and $150MM would take Nolas contract above what MLBTR projected for the right-hander in our annual . Despite all of this, its easy to see why the Phillies would make such a plunge to retain Nolas services. Nolas spent nine years with the club serving as a homegrown ace since his debut with the club back in 2015. In that time, hes compiled a career 3.72 ERA (113 ERA+) and 3.38 FIP with a 27.2% strikeout rate. Since his breakout 2018 campaign where he earned his first career All Star appearance and finished third in NL Cy Young award voting, Nola has been even more impre sive with a 3.65 ERA and 28% strikeout rate. On top of that quality production, Nola is among the most durable pitchers in the entire sport: hes thrown more than 180 innings and made at least 32 starts in each of the last five 162-game seasons. Only Yankees ace has thrown more innings since the start of the 2018 campaign, while only Cole, Wheeler, , and have accumulated more fWAR than Nolas 25.5 figure since then. Should Nola and the Phillies ultimately come together on a new contract, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has that the clubs starting rotation will be set for the 2024 campaign, likely taking Philadelphia out of the rotation market for the rest of the offseason. If a deal between the sides doesnt get done, however, the club figures to be aggre sive in looking to replace Nola with NPB star among the clubs reported hypothetical targets. , , and are among the other potential top-of-the-rotation arms to be had on the free agent market, though Stark reports the club is lukewarm on Snell. The trade market could hold other alternatives to Nola for the Phils, such as Brewers ace or White Sox righty . Anthony Cook Jersey