Phillies "going to try really hard" to re-sign pending free agent Aaron Nola, Middleton says
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Aaron Nola stood by his locker inside the Phillies' clubhouse Tuesday for what may have been the final time. The longest-tenured Phillie will become a free agent once the World Series ends, a series that won't include Nola and his teammates.
The Phillies' magic ran out Tuesday after a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the franchise's first ever Game 7.
Nola described Philadelphia as being a second home to him. He reflected on the relationships he formed over the years, from the dreary rebuilding stages to "Dancing on My Own" of the past two falls. He again expressed a desire to come back.
Meanwhile, Phillies managing partner John Middleton was in the first base stands, interacting and handing out baseballs to fans. He then told CBS News Philadelphia that Games 6 and 7 of the NL Championship Series were "horribly disappointing," but he said he envisions the Phillies "to have a really good run of five to 10 years."
Middleton, who famously once said he was ready to spend "stupid" money, also said he wants Nola to be a part of it.
"We're going to make a really concerted effort to re-sign him," Middleton said. "We really like Aaron. Not just for his pitching ability, which is really good, but for the character that he brings to the clubhouse and to the dugout. He's a really good human being to have on your team. We're going to try really hard to sign him."
WATCH JOHN MIDDLETON'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH CBS PHILADELPHIA BELOW
The Phillies and Nola were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension in spring training, as Nola bet on himself. The 30-year-old then turned in a largely disappointing season, at least by his standards.
Nola posted a 4.46 ERA and gave up a career-high 32 home runs in 193 2/3 innings across 32 starts. Yet, Nola still was in the top 10 in innings pitched, strikeouts (202) and WHIP (1.15) in the National League.
The righty, though, finished the regular season strong and turned in an impressive postseason. He had a 2.60 ERA in his final three starts, striking out 17 and walking just one batter in his final 17 1/3 regular-season innings.
Nola started four games in the 2023 playoffs, posting a 0.96 ERA in his first three starts. In what may have been his final game as a Phillie, he allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings of the Phillies' 5-1 loss to the D-Backs in Game 6.
The Phillies drafted Nola with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft, and he developed into a steady force in the team's rotation. In the last seven seasons, Nola threw 1,233 1/3 innings with a 3.63 ERA and 1,393 strikeouts.
Before Game 1 of the NLCS, Nola said he wanted to come back.
"I hope so. I really do," Nola said on Oct. 17. "I love it here. Obviously, it's the only place I've been. I came up through some special times in the rebuilding era and getting to witness and be a part of a lot of different type of teams. And to be on a team like we are, like I am on now, it's really cool and special to be a part of all of the success and failures to get to where we are now."
