PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have bigger fish to fry this offseason than signing their most talented and controllable players to contract extensions, but it is worth pondering as the free-agent market officially opens Saturday.
The Phillies signed infielder Scott Kingery to a six-year, $24 million contract in March before he played his first big league game. Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins are the most obvious follow-ups, if the Phils want to buy out their first couple of years of free agency. Nola is a bona fide ace. Hoskins is the face of the franchise.
But Nola, 25, is not a free agent until after the 2021 season. Hoskins, 25, will not be a free agent until after '23.
Nola might be more open to an extension, if for no other reason than there are more health risks for pitchers than position players and he has had arm issues in the past. Hoskins' long-term viability became more complicated once he chose Scott Boras as his agent. But there is no rush.
The Phillies signed Jimmy Rollins, who could have become a free agent after the 2006 season, to a five-year, $40 million contract extension in June '05. Chase Utley signed a seven-year, $85 million extension in January '07, when he could have become a free agent after the '09 season. Cole Hamels signed a six-year, $144 million extension in July '12, just months before he could become a free agent.
Those players were much closer to free agency than Nola and Hoskins.