Starter Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola looked the part of an effective No. 2, if not No. 1 starter through his first 25 career starts. From his debut until June 5 of this season, Nola carried a 8.85 K/9, 1.97 BB/9, 3.12 ERA, 3.39 FIP, and 1.09 WHIP. Opposing hitters had a .229 batting average – and a .280 batting average on balls in play – due to Nola’s 50.6% ground ball rate.
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In Nola’s last eight starts, he didn’t even look like a major-league caliber starter. He carried a 9.82 ERA and went 1-5 in that span. He suffered from some bad luck, as he allowed a .451 BABIP despite inducing ground balls 57.8% of the time.
Nola’s injury that ended his season is the biggest hurdle to a potential extension for him. He has to return from that injury healthy in 2017 before contract talks could ever start.
However, if Nola can return from that injury – and return to the numbers from the early part of his career – the Phillies would be wise to lock up Nola as well.
Like his rotation-mate Eickhoff, Nola is also arbitration-eligible after 2018.