Red Sox weren't 'meaningfully involved' in the pursuit of a top free agent pitcher before signing with the Phillies
The Red Sox are hunting the free agent and trade market for starting pitching. New front office chief Craig Breslow has been open about the club’s need for at least two new starters for next season.
One potential target heading into the winter was Phillies free agent pitcher Aaron Nola. Prior to the 30-year-old re-signing with Philadelphia on a seven-year, $172 million deal, it was reported Boston would be in on the veteran.
That wasn’t exactly the case.
The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported on Saturday that the Red Sox were not “meaningfully involved in the bidding” for Nola.
The Braves and Dodgers were among the teams that aggressively pursued Nola. ESPN’s Jeff Passan connected the Braves to Nola immediately after it was announced he was returning to the Phillies.
“The Atlanta Braves were a real threat to poach Aaron Nola. But as negotiations with Nola and his agents, Joe Longo and Garrett Parcell, went on, the Phillies stepped up and gave out their biggest contract for a pitcher and 11th biggest ever,” Passan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The 30-year-old was originally drafted by the Phillies in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft and has spent his entire career in the City of Brotherly Love. The righty posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 32 starts (193 ⅔ innings). Nola did give up a career-high 32 homers, but he offers tremendous durability on the mound.
Since 2018, Nola only trails Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole in innings pitched with 1,065 1/3 frames.
Nola broke out as an All-Star for the Phillies in 2018 and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award race. That season he posted a 17-6 record with a 2.37 ERA. Since then, he has pitched to a 3.97 ERA, and it looks likely he will return to the Phillies and atop of their rotation.
The Red Sox have not made any significant moves in free agency as of yet. Boston acquired reliever Isaiah Campbell from the Mariners for Luis Urías and signed lefties Helcris Olivarez and Jorge Benitez to minor league deals, both include invites to spring training.
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