The Phillies confirmed the agreement on their social media but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Nola had an up-and-down 2023 season that saw him start 32 games and go 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA and 202 strikeouts. He still reportedly received a lot of attention on the free agent market, with the Atlanta Braves being a strong candidate to poach him out of Philadelphia.

Eventually, the Phillies didn’t want to lose a key piece of their rotation and decided to step up their offer to bring the deal over the finishing line. The result was Nola receiving the biggest contract for a pitcher in the franchise’s history.

Aaron Nola joined the Phillies organization in 2014 as a seventh overall draft pick. After one year in the minors, Nola received his MLB debut and never looked back. He has a career record of 90–71 with a 3.72 ERA and 1,582 strikeouts. He was an All-Star in 2018 and received an All-MLB Second Team nod in 2022.

 “When I step on that mound on Opening Day at the Bank, in the city I have grown to love, it will be a great honor,” said Nola in a letter posted on The Players Tribune. “I came to Philadelphia as a kid from Baton Rouge who’d never experienced life in a big city. And for a minute, when I was standing on that sidewalk, wet from getting splashed by a bus, it looked like a lot to me. But I can now say that I’m a better person because of Philadelphia, my teammates, and the people I have surrounded myself with.”

The post Phillies and RHP Aaron Nola Agree to 7-Year, $172 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Kimbrel delivered a scoreless ninth inning against the Braves and is now six of six in closing appearances in the 2023 season.

“I’m happy it was here in Atlanta,” said Kimbrel after the game. “I am happy the majority of my family was here to see it. Getting to take it in and enjoy it with them is great.”

Kimbrel needed 730 MLB appearances to reach his 400 saves. Only Mariano Rivera (697 games), Trevor Hoffman (706 games), and Kenley Jansen (778 games) reached the mark in fewer games than the 34-year-old player.

Craig Kimbrel spent the first five years of his MLB career in Atlanta, earning four All-Star appearances and setting the franchise record with 186 saves during that period. He later played for San Diego Padres and the Boston Red Sox, among other teams, earning four more All-Star nods and winning a World Series ring in 2018. He joined Phillies on a one-year, $10 million deal this past offseason.

The post Phillies’ Closer Craig Kimbrel Becomes 8th Player in MLB History to Reach 400 Saves appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Pache didn’t make Oakland’s Opening Day roster and was out of Minor League options. This meant that the team only had an option of trading him or making him designated for assignment.

Back in 2021, Cristian Pache was ranked as the No. 12 best prospect in baseball as a member of the Atlanta Braves farming system. He landed in Oakland ahead of the 2022 MLB season as part of the trade that sent star first baseman Matt Olson to the Braves.

Despite being the key return in the Olson trade, Pache never managed to find his footing with the A’s. The 24-year-old player demonstrated exciting athleticism in 2022, but his batting failed to get on the level that would make him a regular fixture in the majors. He played 91 games last season, batting .177 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.

The Phillies have added Pache to their 40-man roster and probably hope that they can do a better job of developing him than the A’s did. The potential is there, especially on the defensive end, but it remains to be seen if the Dominican outfielder can progress enough to hold his own on the plate.

For A’s, getting Sullivan is better than letting Pache leave for nothing. The 23-year-old player was 5-1 with Phillies’ Double-A affiliate Reading Fightin Phils in 2022, producing a 4.59 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 44 games.

The post Oakland A’s Trade Former Top Prospect Cristian Pache to the Phillies appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

 “We think the world of Aaron,” Dombrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Saturday. “It’s something we’ve talked long and hard about. … I think the world of him — quality pitcher, quality human being — but sometimes you get to this point where you’re not able to consummate a deal that both sides feel comfortable (with).”

Nola previously set the Opening Day of the 2023 MLB season as a deadline to get the extension with Phillies done. But with Philadelphia giving up, the 29-year-old is now set to see his contract expire and explore free agency after the season ends.

Reportedly, the two sides were initially optimistic about hammering out a deal. The Phillies like Nola’s durability and consistency, while the player didn’t hide that he wants to finish his MLB career with the organization. However, the issue was that Nola reportedly asked for an extension with $200 million guarantees, and the franchise simply didn’t want to come close to this number.

 Aaron Nola has been one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball in recent years. He pitched 143 games and 871 innings since 2018, more than any other pitcher in the league during that time. The Louisiana native is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he had an 11-13 record with 235 strikeouts and 3.25 ERA and made the All-MLB Second-Team.

The post Phillies and Star RHP Aaron Nola End Contract Talks Without an Agreement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Harper admitted that things could change along the way but said that the current plan is to be back on the field in July. 

“Things can change either way,” Harper said. “I could be after, I could be before. But as of right now, that’s the date we kind of solidified. We’re not going to rush. We’re going to be smart about it.”

Harper was diagnosed with a UCL tear in his right elbow in May and hasn’t played in the right field since then. He exclusively served as the Phillies designated hitter and finished the regular season with a .286 batting average, 18 home runs, and 65 RBIs. He still made a big contribution to Philadelphia’s World Series run and was named National League Championship Series MVP in the process.

After the season ended, Harper underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the damage in his elbow. While the recovery period for pitchers is anywhere from 12 to 18 months after the procedure, Harper will be able to return a lot faster because he doesn’t need to throw the ball as much. Still, even when he’s back, he will likely continue to serve in the DH role for a while.

The post Phillies’ Star Bryce Harper Hopes to Be Back By MLB All-Star Break appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Phillies president Dave Dombrowski had revealed to reporters last week that Harper would indeed require surgery to be performed on his elbow, the president was unable to confirm whether the procedure would be of the Tommy John variety or not. “We have no prognosis, really, until [the surgeon] goes into the elbow and takes a look at it,” Dombrowski said to the press.

After tearing his ACL in April, Harper was ruled out of action for the remainder of the season. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow a month later and was later moved to a designated hitter role.

Currently, the Phillies believe that Harper will not be able to return to the field until the All-Star break, at which point he would assume the role of hitter. He may only be able to return to his right-field position by the end of the season.

The post Phillies’ Harper Undergoes Elbow Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Harper is set to undergo surgery after initially suffering a tear in his UCL in April. This injury ruled him out of action for the remainder of last season. and required him to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow in May as part of his rehabilitation.

Dombrowski revealed that there is currently no timeline for the player’s recovery, while it is still unknown whether Tommy John surgery may be required.

“We have no prognosis, really, until [the surgeon] goes into the elbow and takes a look at it,” Dombrowski said. “We’ll have something at that time with the surgery and the anticipation something will happen. I think it will slow him down for the season. We’ll know more next week.”

Before his injury, Harper proved to be one of the Phillies’ standout stars last season, hitting .500 in the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres.

The post Phillies’ Bryce Harper to Undergo Elbow Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The team’s president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke on Harper’s injury situation at the general manager’s meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday, explaining that there is a chance that the injury might not impact Harper’s start to the 2023 season.

“It could be no surgery to Tommy John surgery. We’ll just have to wait and see what the doctor says,” Dombrowski said. “Of course, the [course of action has] all sorts of ramifications for us. But we can’t do anything until we find out what they are.”

Before his injury, Harper was the Phillies’ designated hitter throughout the majority of the 2022 season. Harper proved particularly effective during the playoffs, hitting .400 in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves and .500 in the NLCS against the San Diego Padre on route to the World Series.

Dombrowski confirmed that the team will move as quickly as possible to find the optimal solution to Harper’s injury.

The post Phillies Right Fielder Bryce Harper to Undergo Elbow Examination appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros’ dominant showing isn’t much of a surprise, considering they have been consistent all season long. After leading the AL with 106 wins during the regular season, Houston swept the Seattle Mariners in ALDS and then dealt with the Yankees easier than expected.

“It’s a long road to get here,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker after Game 4, which his team won 6-5. “There’s a lot that happens in the months to get here from spring training. It means that we persevered, and we stayed together, and we made the necessary trades when we had to try to strengthen certain parts of our team.”

The Phillies, on the other hand, have caught the NL off guard, considering they barely got to the postseason as the third team in NL East. They first stunned the favored Cardinals in NLWC and then eliminated divisional rivals Atlanta Braves in just four games in an NLDS showdown.

The Padres proved to be a tougher challenge, considering every game went down to the wire. However, the Phillies showed resilience and had their best players come through when it mattered the most. This was especially the case with star right fielder Bryce Harper, who hit a home run in the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Padres to give his team a 3-4 comeback win. 

“I didn’t want to get back on that flight back to San Diego. I just didn’t want to get on a 5½-hour flight,” Harper said after the game. “I wanted to hang out at home and enjoy this at home with these fans and this organization and this fan base.”

The Astros and the Phillies will play Game 1 of the 2022 World Series on Friday. This will be the fourth World Series appearance for Houston in the past six seasons and the first for Philadelphia since 2009.

The post Astros and Phillies to Face Off in the 2022 World Series appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Girardi’s firing was confirmed via a statement by Phillies’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. It was also revealed that bench coach Rob Thomson would take over as manager on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign. Quality assurance coach Mike Calitri will fill Thompson’s old position.

“It has been a frustrating season for us up until this point, as we feel that our club has not played up to its capabilities,” said Dombrowski. “While all of us share the responsibility for the shortcomings, I felt that a change was needed and that a new voice in the clubhouse would give us the best chance to turn things around.”

Joe Girardi arrived in Philadelphia in 2020 following a decade-long stint with the New York Yankees, whom he led to a World Series win. The idea was that Girardi would get Phillies back on track after a nine-year playoff drought, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

The pandemic didn’t do Girardi any favors and he managed to get to the 28-32 record in the pandemic shortened season. He managed to get above .500 in his second year with the franchise, but the 82-80 record was still not enough for a postseason return.

This campaign is on track to be even worse, although it might not be all Girardi’s fault. The Phillies bullpen mightily struggled so far in 2022, the injuries kept testing their depth, and the offense never managed to find a rhythm. Still, Girardi isn’t backing away from responsibility.

“We underperformed, and that falls on me. This is what happens,” he said while speaking on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio shortly after the news about his firing came out.

The post Phillies Fire Manager Joe Girardi After Disappointing Start of 2022 MLB Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Phillies confirmed the agreement on their social media but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Nola had an up-and-down 2023 season that saw him start 32 games and go 12-9 with a 4.46 ERA and 202 strikeouts. He still reportedly received a lot of attention on the free agent market, with the Atlanta Braves being a strong candidate to poach him out of Philadelphia.

Eventually, the Phillies didn’t want to lose a key piece of their rotation and decided to step up their offer to bring the deal over the finishing line. The result was Nola receiving the biggest contract for a pitcher in the franchise’s history.

Aaron Nola joined the Phillies organization in 2014 as a seventh overall draft pick. After one year in the minors, Nola received his MLB debut and never looked back. He has a career record of 90–71 with a 3.72 ERA and 1,582 strikeouts. He was an All-Star in 2018 and received an All-MLB Second Team nod in 2022.

 “When I step on that mound on Opening Day at the Bank, in the city I have grown to love, it will be a great honor,” said Nola in a letter posted on The Players Tribune. “I came to Philadelphia as a kid from Baton Rouge who’d never experienced life in a big city. And for a minute, when I was standing on that sidewalk, wet from getting splashed by a bus, it looked like a lot to me. But I can now say that I’m a better person because of Philadelphia, my teammates, and the people I have surrounded myself with.”

The post Phillies and RHP Aaron Nola Agree to 7-Year, $172 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Kimbrel delivered a scoreless ninth inning against the Braves and is now six of six in closing appearances in the 2023 season.

“I’m happy it was here in Atlanta,” said Kimbrel after the game. “I am happy the majority of my family was here to see it. Getting to take it in and enjoy it with them is great.”

Kimbrel needed 730 MLB appearances to reach his 400 saves. Only Mariano Rivera (697 games), Trevor Hoffman (706 games), and Kenley Jansen (778 games) reached the mark in fewer games than the 34-year-old player.

Craig Kimbrel spent the first five years of his MLB career in Atlanta, earning four All-Star appearances and setting the franchise record with 186 saves during that period. He later played for San Diego Padres and the Boston Red Sox, among other teams, earning four more All-Star nods and winning a World Series ring in 2018. He joined Phillies on a one-year, $10 million deal this past offseason.

The post Phillies’ Closer Craig Kimbrel Becomes 8th Player in MLB History to Reach 400 Saves appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Pache didn’t make Oakland’s Opening Day roster and was out of Minor League options. This meant that the team only had an option of trading him or making him designated for assignment.

Back in 2021, Cristian Pache was ranked as the No. 12 best prospect in baseball as a member of the Atlanta Braves farming system. He landed in Oakland ahead of the 2022 MLB season as part of the trade that sent star first baseman Matt Olson to the Braves.

Despite being the key return in the Olson trade, Pache never managed to find his footing with the A’s. The 24-year-old player demonstrated exciting athleticism in 2022, but his batting failed to get on the level that would make him a regular fixture in the majors. He played 91 games last season, batting .177 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.

The Phillies have added Pache to their 40-man roster and probably hope that they can do a better job of developing him than the A’s did. The potential is there, especially on the defensive end, but it remains to be seen if the Dominican outfielder can progress enough to hold his own on the plate.

For A’s, getting Sullivan is better than letting Pache leave for nothing. The 23-year-old player was 5-1 with Phillies’ Double-A affiliate Reading Fightin Phils in 2022, producing a 4.59 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 44 games.

The post Oakland A’s Trade Former Top Prospect Cristian Pache to the Phillies appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

 “We think the world of Aaron,” Dombrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Saturday. “It’s something we’ve talked long and hard about. … I think the world of him — quality pitcher, quality human being — but sometimes you get to this point where you’re not able to consummate a deal that both sides feel comfortable (with).”

Nola previously set the Opening Day of the 2023 MLB season as a deadline to get the extension with Phillies done. But with Philadelphia giving up, the 29-year-old is now set to see his contract expire and explore free agency after the season ends.

Reportedly, the two sides were initially optimistic about hammering out a deal. The Phillies like Nola’s durability and consistency, while the player didn’t hide that he wants to finish his MLB career with the organization. However, the issue was that Nola reportedly asked for an extension with $200 million guarantees, and the franchise simply didn’t want to come close to this number.

 Aaron Nola has been one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball in recent years. He pitched 143 games and 871 innings since 2018, more than any other pitcher in the league during that time. The Louisiana native is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he had an 11-13 record with 235 strikeouts and 3.25 ERA and made the All-MLB Second-Team.

The post Phillies and Star RHP Aaron Nola End Contract Talks Without an Agreement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Harper admitted that things could change along the way but said that the current plan is to be back on the field in July. 

“Things can change either way,” Harper said. “I could be after, I could be before. But as of right now, that’s the date we kind of solidified. We’re not going to rush. We’re going to be smart about it.”

Harper was diagnosed with a UCL tear in his right elbow in May and hasn’t played in the right field since then. He exclusively served as the Phillies designated hitter and finished the regular season with a .286 batting average, 18 home runs, and 65 RBIs. He still made a big contribution to Philadelphia’s World Series run and was named National League Championship Series MVP in the process.

After the season ended, Harper underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the damage in his elbow. While the recovery period for pitchers is anywhere from 12 to 18 months after the procedure, Harper will be able to return a lot faster because he doesn’t need to throw the ball as much. Still, even when he’s back, he will likely continue to serve in the DH role for a while.

The post Phillies’ Star Bryce Harper Hopes to Be Back By MLB All-Star Break appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Phillies president Dave Dombrowski had revealed to reporters last week that Harper would indeed require surgery to be performed on his elbow, the president was unable to confirm whether the procedure would be of the Tommy John variety or not. “We have no prognosis, really, until [the surgeon] goes into the elbow and takes a look at it,” Dombrowski said to the press.

After tearing his ACL in April, Harper was ruled out of action for the remainder of the season. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow a month later and was later moved to a designated hitter role.

Currently, the Phillies believe that Harper will not be able to return to the field until the All-Star break, at which point he would assume the role of hitter. He may only be able to return to his right-field position by the end of the season.

The post Phillies’ Harper Undergoes Elbow Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Harper is set to undergo surgery after initially suffering a tear in his UCL in April. This injury ruled him out of action for the remainder of last season. and required him to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow in May as part of his rehabilitation.

Dombrowski revealed that there is currently no timeline for the player’s recovery, while it is still unknown whether Tommy John surgery may be required.

“We have no prognosis, really, until [the surgeon] goes into the elbow and takes a look at it,” Dombrowski said. “We’ll have something at that time with the surgery and the anticipation something will happen. I think it will slow him down for the season. We’ll know more next week.”

Before his injury, Harper proved to be one of the Phillies’ standout stars last season, hitting .500 in the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres.

The post Phillies’ Bryce Harper to Undergo Elbow Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The team’s president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke on Harper’s injury situation at the general manager’s meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday, explaining that there is a chance that the injury might not impact Harper’s start to the 2023 season.

“It could be no surgery to Tommy John surgery. We’ll just have to wait and see what the doctor says,” Dombrowski said. “Of course, the [course of action has] all sorts of ramifications for us. But we can’t do anything until we find out what they are.”

Before his injury, Harper was the Phillies’ designated hitter throughout the majority of the 2022 season. Harper proved particularly effective during the playoffs, hitting .400 in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves and .500 in the NLCS against the San Diego Padre on route to the World Series.

Dombrowski confirmed that the team will move as quickly as possible to find the optimal solution to Harper’s injury.

The post Phillies Right Fielder Bryce Harper to Undergo Elbow Examination appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros’ dominant showing isn’t much of a surprise, considering they have been consistent all season long. After leading the AL with 106 wins during the regular season, Houston swept the Seattle Mariners in ALDS and then dealt with the Yankees easier than expected.

“It’s a long road to get here,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker after Game 4, which his team won 6-5. “There’s a lot that happens in the months to get here from spring training. It means that we persevered, and we stayed together, and we made the necessary trades when we had to try to strengthen certain parts of our team.”

The Phillies, on the other hand, have caught the NL off guard, considering they barely got to the postseason as the third team in NL East. They first stunned the favored Cardinals in NLWC and then eliminated divisional rivals Atlanta Braves in just four games in an NLDS showdown.

The Padres proved to be a tougher challenge, considering every game went down to the wire. However, the Phillies showed resilience and had their best players come through when it mattered the most. This was especially the case with star right fielder Bryce Harper, who hit a home run in the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Padres to give his team a 3-4 comeback win. 

“I didn’t want to get back on that flight back to San Diego. I just didn’t want to get on a 5½-hour flight,” Harper said after the game. “I wanted to hang out at home and enjoy this at home with these fans and this organization and this fan base.”

The Astros and the Phillies will play Game 1 of the 2022 World Series on Friday. This will be the fourth World Series appearance for Houston in the past six seasons and the first for Philadelphia since 2009.

The post Astros and Phillies to Face Off in the 2022 World Series appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Girardi’s firing was confirmed via a statement by Phillies’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. It was also revealed that bench coach Rob Thomson would take over as manager on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign. Quality assurance coach Mike Calitri will fill Thompson’s old position.

“It has been a frustrating season for us up until this point, as we feel that our club has not played up to its capabilities,” said Dombrowski. “While all of us share the responsibility for the shortcomings, I felt that a change was needed and that a new voice in the clubhouse would give us the best chance to turn things around.”

Joe Girardi arrived in Philadelphia in 2020 following a decade-long stint with the New York Yankees, whom he led to a World Series win. The idea was that Girardi would get Phillies back on track after a nine-year playoff drought, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

The pandemic didn’t do Girardi any favors and he managed to get to the 28-32 record in the pandemic shortened season. He managed to get above .500 in his second year with the franchise, but the 82-80 record was still not enough for a postseason return.

This campaign is on track to be even worse, although it might not be all Girardi’s fault. The Phillies bullpen mightily struggled so far in 2022, the injuries kept testing their depth, and the offense never managed to find a rhythm. Still, Girardi isn’t backing away from responsibility.

“We underperformed, and that falls on me. This is what happens,” he said while speaking on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio shortly after the news about his firing came out.

The post Phillies Fire Manager Joe Girardi After Disappointing Start of 2022 MLB Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.