Phillies favored to retain top free agent


One of the most consistent MLB starting pitchers of the last half-decade is on the free-agent market.

Aaron Nola, who has the second-most innings pitched in the majors since the 2018 season, is one of the most prized arms available this winter and odds are out for his next destination.

The Phillies, who Nola has played for during his his entire nine-year career, are the clear favorites to retain the right-hander, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Philadelphia is +290 to resign him, well ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (+500) and Boston Red Sox (+550), who have the second- and third-best odds to land Nola, respectively.

Aaron Nola next team odds

Team Odds
Philadelphia Phillies +290
St. Louis Cardinals +500
Boston Red Sox +550
Baltimore Orioles +700
San Francisco Giants +1000
Los Angeles Dodgers +1000
Houston Astros +1000
The Field +1100
New York Yankees +1200
New York Mets +1200
Toronto Blue Jays +1300
San Diego Padres +1300
Chicago Cubs +1400
Cincinnati Reds +1400
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.

The notoriously low-budget Orioles are fourth on the odds board at +700.

Baltimore, the reigning American League East champions, is in the market for starting pitching help, but may not be willing to shell out the likely $150 million-plus it will take to sign a pitcher like Nola.

The Mets and Yankees, who are also looking to add a top-of-the-rotation arm this offseason, are both +1200 to sign Nola since it seems they’re focused on Yoshinobu Yamamoto.


Aaron Nola is a top free agent.
Getty Images

Every team in baseball could use a pitcher like Nola, though.

The 30-year-old has pitched at least 180 innings in each of his last five full seasons, and posted a 3.65 ERA while striking out 10.2 batters per nine innings over that period.

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He’s coming off an underwhelming 2023 season ERA-wise (4.46), but Nola’s expected ERA (3.77) and expected FIP (3.63) show him to be a bit unlucky.

His strikeout and walk rates were largely in line with his career averages too.

Whoever signs Nola this winter will hope he returns to his 2022 form.

Nola had one of the best seasons of his career that year with a 3.25 ERA and an even better 2.58 FIP over 205 innings to finish fourth in the National League Cy Young voting.



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