Philadelphia Phillies: Aaron Nola set to return as Zach Eflin opts out

The World Series is over, as is the 2022 Major League season. While it may not have ended the way those supporting the Philadelphia Phillies certainly have hoped, the beneficial course of action is to be future-focused.

This entire World Series squad was certainly not expected to stay together. Several members have already entered free agency. Noah Syndergaard, David Robertson, Brad Hand, Kyle Gibson, and Corey Knebel are among the most notable.

As the seasons begin to turn over anew, the Phillies have begun their off-season. The team has done so by picking up the option of one of their starting pitchers while seeing another opt out of his deal.

As Aaron Nola is set to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, Zach Eflin opts out.

The retention of Nola was crucial to Philadelphia’s offseason. It was never in question whether or not the team would pick up the club option on their co-ace, but to have the deal done still breeds a subtle sigh of relief as it now feels “real” upon completion.

Nola’s record (11-13) does not do him justice, but his season was truly spectacular. The righty — who is now entering his ninth season — pitched his way to an ERA of 3.25 (the second lowest of his career), a career-high in strikeouts and walks per nine innings. This, of course, led to another career high in SO/BB (8.10) which was 2.38 points up from his next-highest season.

The Phillies will have Nola on for one more season before they must break the bank in the 2023-24 offseason. For now, Philadelphia’s star pitcher will remain with the team for a more-than-reasonable $18 million, according to the MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

As for starting pitcher turned bullpen arm and occasion closer Zach Eflin, it’s not surprising to see the long-time Phillie part ways, but it’s still bittersweet.

Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres, Eflin came to Philadelphia in the trade that sent All-Time Philadelphia Phillies star Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers (who had acquired Eflin less than a day before from San Diego). This move was the first of many that would signal the end of the core of the 2008 World Series team and the beginning of the future.

Eflin’s time in Philadelphia would be full of potential and, unfortunately, a myriad of injuries as well. In seven seasons with the Phillies, Zach Eflin managed to pitch over 100 innings just three times though that’s not to say that he did not impress at times.

There was, of course, good reason for those in Philadelphia to constantly believe he was on the precipice of becoming a legitimate third starter — his complete game against the Marlins in April of 2019 comes to mind. Overall, Zach Eflin’s time in Philadelphia should be remembered fondly. To be clear, however, it is not certain that the book on Eflin and the Phils is officially closed.

While it may be unlikely, if Eflin is unable to find the market he — and his agent — are expecting this winter, a return on a “prove it” is more than likely still on the table. The Phillies lost two of their starting five-man rotation and will, of course, be in the market to replace them. In fact, an argument could be made that they should extend their rotation to six pitchers, in which case, Eflin makes absolute sense.

Time will tell how the story of Zach Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies ends. For now, fans should applaud the retention of Aaron Nola, the priority for lack of a better word, and wish Eflin well as he approaches the next chapter of his career.