This Will Be Aaron Nola’s Last Season With The Phillies

Running back is an interesting position in 2023. If you are drafted in the first round you will likely spend 5 years with the team that drafted you and then be looking for a new house in a new city. Because if the player lives up to being drafted in the first round, then they aren't resigned. Running back has been such a depreciated position that if a player ACTUALLY performs well then the team that he's on is not going to want to pay him for a second contract. Worried that the drop off will happen when he is being paid top dollar. On the flip side, if the player underperforms then he will be looking for a home in a new city because....he underperformed. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Aaron Nola may as well be a running back this season.

Aaron Nola and the Phillies were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension when spring training came to an end. Nola does not want to discuss an extension in season, which means that Nola will reach free agency for the first time in his career. And he is going to get PAID this offseason. But it wont be by the Philadelphia Phillies. That much is clear. Because the Phillies are prepared to treat Nola like NFL teams treat first round running backs. "Thank you for your service but your performance has priced you out of our price range."  This is the most logical outcome after a contract extension wasn't reached.

The Phillies had to be worried about how Nola would deal with the pitch clock. The slowest starter in the rotation dealing with a clock that would force him to rush his pitches, concern was understandable. Nola has been a roller coaster during his Phillies career. The highs are high but the lows are low. Last season he was 11-13 with a 3.25 ERA. 235 strike outs in 205 innings pitched. This followed a 2021 season where Nola struggled with a 9-9 record and a 4.63 ERA. Nola seems to have a great season, followed by a meh season, and then a great season. His inconsistency, along with not knowing how he would adapt to the clock, likely led to the Phillies having a price and not moving from it.

But now Nola is in a peculiar situation. Because if Nola pitches well, he prices himself out. But if Nola struggles, then why would you want a 31 year old pitcher struggling in the first year of a pitch clock. This is why Nola wont be a Phillie in 2023.

Salaries are always going up. So ultimately its tough to compare what Nola might get in free agency to those of the past, but I'll try. Jacob deGrom signed for 5 years at an average salary of $37 million. Justin Verlander signed a 2 year deal for an average salary of $43 million. But those two are Cy Young winners while Nola is just a Cy Young finalist. A better comparison is Carlos Rodon who signed a 6 year contract for an average salary of $27 million. Rodon doesn't have the resume that Nola has but his last 2 seasons have been exceptional. I think Nola would command more money on the open market than Rondon. Do you feel comfortable giving Aaron Nola $30 million a season?

The Phillies have been planning for this. It is one of the reasons they drafted Mick Abel and Andrew Painter. The Phillies were preparing for life without Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler (whos contract is up in 2024). The Phillies certainly hope that Andrew Painter heals from his injury and solidifies himself as a solid starter this season so they can move forward with him in 2024. The Phillies likely will go into next season with a rotation of Zach Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Taijuan Walker, Bailey Falter and Andrew Painter.

When the Phillies didn't reach an agreement on a deal with Nola it told you all you need to know about their mentality. There is a limit to their spending. Their payroll is projected to be $197 million in 2024 and that is with holes at first base, and bullpen. Will John Middleton want to exceed the luxury tax again?

So enjoy Aaron Nola this season. Because it will certainly be his last in a Phillies uniform.

It is that time of the year! NFL (mock) draft season! The draft will go down April 27th-29th LIVE from Kansas City Missouri. The three day event should see Howie Roseman and the Eagles be very active as the team has two first round picks (pick 10 and pick 30) but hold only 5 picks total. Howie could trade down to recoup some picks. He could trade up to grab a player he targeted. He could trade a first round pick for a current stud player who is in a contract battle with his current team, like he did last year with AJ Brown.

The beauty of Howie Roseman is he works in the shadows. Last season no one saw him snagging AJ Brown for one of the team's first round picks. But he did. He was able to get Brown, and pay him. Something the Titans were not willing to do. They then used the pick they got from the Eagles to draft Treylon Burks. A player who scouts said "Could be AJ Brown." AJ Brown proceeded to have the best season of any wide receiver to wear an Eagles uniform.

So what about this season?

Our own NFL Draft expert Jamie "The Bro" Lynch is BACK! He is in "the lab" (as the kids say) and has been crunching the numbers. Making phone calls. Watching the tape. Jamie will give you a mock of the top 10 picks, ending with the Eagles drafting 10th overall. "I cant do picks 1-30....I dont have the stamina," Jamie told us. "Low motor."

We kick it off with Jamie Lynch's Mock Draft 2.0, because I just forgot to include the 1.0. But the 1.0 is yesterday's news anyway and no one cares about it. 2.0 is where its at. Make sure to tweet Jamie your thoughts about his picks on twitter @JeLynchJr

Jamie has the Panthers trading up for their franchise QB. Stroud has been tagged to go #1 for a while, and he goes #1 here.

The Texans desperately need a quarterback and they get a really good one in Alabama's Bryce Young.

back to back Alabama players go top 3 ion the draft. "I just dont think the Cardinals pass on a talent like that" Jamie told the morning show. Anderson can give the Cardinals a dominant pass rush.

Yes! There is a lot of negative surrounding Jalen Carter right now. Jamie is thinking that dies down by the time the commissioner hits the podium and Shane Steichen elects for the dominating D-Linemen over a franchise QB.

The "project" is driving up draft boards but is a perfect fit for Seattle. Pete Carroll will get a QB that he can sit behind Geno Smith. Richardson will hold a clipboard and learn his first year, then hopefully take over when hes ready.

The Lions get the first corner off the board with Devon Witherspoon. Pairing him with former top 5 pick Jeff Okudah

With Derek Carr leaving for New Orleans, Josh McDaniels get to hand pick his QB. He may look to trade up if he loves Anthony Richardson, but if he stays at 7 then Will Levis is in play

The Falcons have attempted to overhaul their offense the last few years and now they look to improve the defense. They Falcons have only gone offense once in the last five draft classes but that one time they took CB AJ Terrell. They now go Christian Gonzalez, who some have as the best CB in the draft.

The Bears have their franchise QB. Now its time to protect him. They will look to do that by grabbing Skoronski, the top tackle on the board.

Myles Murphy gives the Eagles much needed depth on the edge. With Brandon Graham getting up there in age, the Eagles need to add a guy who they can pair with Josh Sweat for the next 5-10 years. They do that with drafting Murphy.