The first major domino of the 2024 offseason has officially fallen. On Sunday, the Phillies announced that Aaron Nola, a top Dodgers target, would be staying in Philadelphia long-term.
Nola officially signed a seven-year, $172 million contract to stay with the team that drafted him.
While this result was not totally unexpected, an interesting piece regarding the Dodgers’ pursuit of the right-hander came out,
“It was also neither the Braves’ final offer nor the only one that Nola received. The deep-pocketed — and pitching-starving — Dodgers put a finger on the scale at $165 million, according to a source. Phillies officials suspected more teams were involved, with at least one other club offering more.”
Scott Lauber
It’s well-known that the Dodgers’ top need this offseason is starting pitching. So, seeing a report that the team made a very competitive offer bodes well for fans moving forward.
The above quote shows that the front office is very serious about adding real firepower to the rotation this offseason.
While the Dodgers tend not to be outbid in overall salary, they can become tight-pursed with regard to years on the deal. In the past, the organization notably offered Bryce Harper a four-year deal and Corey Seager an eight-year deal. These players would go on to sign 13-year and 10-year deals, respectively, despite the Dodgers offering a higher AAV.
Whether or not that was the reason the Dodgers ultimately missed out on Aaron Nola is unknown, but fans can expect the team to be deep in the mix for every high-profile starter.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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