Despite His Struggles, Aaron Nola Will Still Get Paid Somewhere
Aaron Nola is an enigma. At times, he looks like a true Ace. We saw that in the first couple games of the playoffs last year where he dominated the Cardinals and Braves. But it is those other times that drive us crazy. And most of this season has fallen other the other times category. On the season his ERA is 4.49. He has already set a personal record for HRs allowed in a season (29). He is tied for the NL Lead in Earned Runs allowed at 80. It has been a bad season. And with it also being a contract year, many expect that this will cost him money, and maybe make him more affordable this offseason. Not so fast.
After his most recent start on Monday, where he actually looked decent despite giving up two more HRs, Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever to discuss Aaron Nola. And he told us that despite what we see from him from start to start, there are still teams out there who will be willing to pay him what he wants.
“The thing you need to know is he is going to get paid. The volume is valued. Despite how it looks when you watch him from start to start, if you are not watching him… and you are just looking at metrics, he looks a lot better to those that think that way, than I think that he does to those of us who see him all the time.”
The thing about Aaron Nola is he is usually a lock to go deep into games. Even if he does give up a 3-run HR early, he usually sticks in the game until the 7th. Every season he is always near the top of the league in innings pitched. And despite his struggles, he is a top-25 pitcher in batting average against this season.
We look at Nola and see how frustrating and inconsistent he can be. But as Jayson Stark mentioned, not every team does that. There are a lot of front offices who will look at the underlying metrics, and see a guy with a huge upside. To be fair to them, there is an upside. We have seen Nola be great. He has very good stuff. But he is prone to mistake pitches, and untimely blowups.
So if you were hoping the Phillies could maybe get him cheap this offseason, you may be disappointed. There are teams who highly value what Aaron Nola brings to the table. The volume matters, especially in the regular season. And maybe if he goes to a ballpark with loftier dimensions, more of those mistake pitches will end up in his outfielder’s gloves at the warning track, instead of in some fan’s hands. Though with that said, he has actually pitched far better this season at home than on the road.
We all know he likely does not deserve top Ace money. But he wouldn’t be the first pitcher to get overpaid. And it is very likely someone will be willing to overpay for Nola this off-season.
You can listen to the full conversation with Jayson Stark below:
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History of Philadelphia Phillies Ballparks
Citizens Bank Park
2004-Present
Estimated Capacity: 43,000The grand opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004 provided a shiny new alternative to a rundown stadium that had fallen apart. The lure of Ashburn Alley, Harry the K’s, and Bull’s BBQ created excitement for a new era of baseball in a town that had endured too much losing during the 1990s.
Three years later, the Phillies won the first of five consecutive National League East pennants. The stretch included the clinching victory in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies sold out Citizens Bank Park for 257 consecutive regular-season games from July 2009-August 2012. It was the third-longest streak in MLB history at the time, and 16 playoff games all sold out during the same stretch.
Colin Newby | BBGI Philadelphia
Veterans Stadium
1971-2003
Estimated Capacity: 62,000 (baseball)Veterans Stadium opened during an era when MLB and NFL teams trended toward a preference for sharing multipurpose stadiums. The Houston Astrodome and Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh had recently opened before the Vet, creating some excitement for a brand new venue.
The multipurpose stadium turned into a venue associated more commonly with the Philadelphia Eagles and the tough, old school identity of the fan base. The hostility against visiting teams, the infamous jail of Judge Seamus McCaffery, and the cringy field conditions all became part of local legends personified by the Vet.
Photo by Doug Pensinger /Allsport
