MLB Rumors: Phillies are “interested” in Sonny Gray
A shakeup could be on the horizon for the Phillies’ starting pitching rotation this winter. Nine-year veteran Aaron Nola, coming off his age-30 season, will be a free agent and it won’t be cheap to keep him, perhaps a contract worth up to $200 million . If the Phils can’t keep Nola, they could turn their attention to right guard Sonny Gray, as MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports:
The Phillies are interested in Sonny Gray, sources say, and will be a top contender for him if they don’t retain free agent Aaron Nola.
Gray and Philly pitching coach Caleb Cotham are former college teammates and worked well together when Cotham was with the Reds. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 8, 2023
Gray was an All-Star with the Twins in his 11th big league season in 2023. He posted a 2.79 ERA, an MLB-best 2.83 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching Number scaled to ERA), and allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings (0.4) in the majors.
Gray, 34, is a few years older than Nola but has pitched just 149 more innings, which is a little less than a year of starting pitching work.
Nola had some elite campaigns in Philadelphia but became increasingly inconsistent. Nola’s ERA is 4.06 in 96 starts over the last three seasons. This inconsistency has carried over into the postseason. He pitched six shutout innings in the Phillies’ NLCS Game 2 win over the Diamondbacks, but in a potential shutout Game 6, he dropped two early home runs and four runs in 4.1 innings.
The Phillies are never afraid to throw money around, so this certainly isn’t the last we’ll hear of them making a splash in free agency.
MORE: The latest roundup of Phillies rumors
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