si
With the free agent class this offseason viewed as relatively weak, teams are expected to prioritize the trade market. For the Philadelphia Phillies, that means confronting the sizable commitment still owed to right-hander Aaron Nola.
Nola inked a seven-year, $172 million deal with Philadelphia before the 2024 campaign. He is now entering the fourth year of that contract, with four years and $98.3 million remaining on the books.
According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, Nola's contract ranks as the eighth most untradeable in all of baseball.
Two seasons ago, Nola endured the worst campaign of his career. In 2025, he recorded a 6.01 ERA and a 5-10 record over 94.1 innings in 17 starts, posting a career-worst 74 ERA+ and a 1.35 WHIP. He also finished with a negative WAR (-0.3) for the first time.
Nola showed improvement this past season, delivering a serviceable bounce-back. In his age-33 campaign, he logged a 4.67 ERA across 175.1 innings, accumulating a 3.1 WAR. He made 33 starts in 2026, leading the National League.
However, Nola also surrendered 37 home runs in 2026, the most by any pitcher in baseball last season and a career high, surpassing his previous mark of 32 in 2023. He had also led the NL in home runs allowed with 30 in 2024.
While Nola improved from his 2025 struggles, it remains uncertain whether he will be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter as he moves into the latter half of his contract. He has a track record of success, but as he ages, his future production for the Phillies' rotation is unclear.
Nola has proven to be a durable workhorse who will pitch a lot of innings. Still, if Philadelphia wanted to trade him, moving him would be difficult given his contract. He is currently 33 and will be 37 when the deal expires. While age is less of a concern for pitchers who can remain durable into their late 30s and early 40s, the contract is not ideal for potential suitors.
Either way, the Phillies' ability to trade Nola will be slim to none considering the contract he is locked into. He seems destined to be a back-of-the-rotation starter who eats innings as he reaches the latter end of his deal.