Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PSF) — According to multiple sources, the Philadelphia Phillies and Aaron Nola agreed to a 7-year, 172 million-dollar contract this morning.

According to many sources, including ESPN’s Jeff Passan, other teams, including the Atlanta Braves, were negotiating with Nola’s representatives in an attempt to poach him away from the Phillies, but the number one priority for Nola was to return to Philadelphia.

Nola’s contract includes no opt-outs, and no team options. He will have a consistent yearly salary of 24.57 million.

Nola, 30, was an all-star in 2018. He has been a staple in the Phillies’ rotation since 2016, pitching over 100 innings every year since then, not counting the shortened 2020 season. His best years came in 2018 (3rd in CYA voting), 2020 (7th in CYA voting), and 2022 (4th in CYA voting). He has been durable, reliable, and at times, the best starting pitcher on the Phillies’ roster. It seems both sides were intent on reuniting, and they were ultimately able to get the deal done.

For his career, Nola owns a 90-71 record with a 3.72 ERA in 1422 innings and 1582 career strikeouts. He had a tough year in 2023 and was inconsistent at times, as he had a 4.46 ERA in 193.2 innings, the second worst of his career behind his 2016 season. Although it was not his best season, his solid 2023 postseason likely helped raise his price, as he posted a respectable 3.83 ERA in 23 postseason innings and flashed signs of brilliance earlier in the postseason against the Marlins and Braves (12.2 innings, 2 earned runs, 12 strikeouts), but struggled towards the end of the Phillies’ run.

One of the top arms in a weak, top-heavy starting pitching free agency class, Nola was projected to have a plethora of suitors, such as the Braves, Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Yankees, and Phillies. With Nola off the market now, teams looking to move the needle in improving their rotation will likely turn to arms such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Sonny Gray, Marcus Stroman, and for 2025 and beyond, Shohei Ohtani.

Another important implication of Nola’s return is that it sets the market for the starting pitching. If Nola, 31 next year, who has been alternating between really good and inconsistent years since 2018, got 172 million, then it is likely that now two-time CY Young Award Winner Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get upwards of 200 million. Nola’s early free-agency deal also drives up the price of the starting pitchers because the number of quality starting pitchers on the market decreases by one, meaning more competition will be present for the services of the top arms.

Nola’s return makes sense for both sides. Fans and players have a strong appreciation for Nola’s durability and positive overall impact on the Phillies, and after the season it seemed increasingly likely that Nola would return amidst reports a reunion was desired. Now, with Nola secured until 2030, he will again be a constant in the Phillies’ rotation for years to come.

The Phillies also may not be done. They have been connected to other high-level free agents, particularly star closer Josh Hader, and the financial capabilities plus recent success justify being aggressive in the upper echelon of the free agency market. As the market begins to become more active, look for the Phillies to try and keep upgrading their team, most likely in the form of bullpen help and possibly an upgrade in Center Field.