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Dave Dombrowski discusses futures of Nola, Hoskins

Dave Dombrowski is the president of baseball operations for the Phillies. (Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

Although they’re the two longest-tenured players on the current Phillies roster, the future for Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins following this season is unclear. Both players are entering the final year of their contracts, opening up discussion as to whether they could leave Philadelphia after 2023.

Appearing on the SportsRadio 94 WIP Midday Show on Thursday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke about Nola and Hoskins, as well as what the future might hold for them.

The veteran executive expressed interest in signing the right-hander Nola to an extension before he hits free agency at the end of the season.

“It’s something we’d like to do,” Dombrowski said. “We want Aaron to be in the organization for a long time; there’s no question about that.”

Nola, 29, had previously signed a four-year, $45 million extension with the team in February of 2019 after he was an All-Star during the 2018 season. Since then, he has continued to be one of the most durable and productive starting pitchers in the major leagues. Keeping Nola around will almost surely take a larger commitment — in terms of years and dollars — than it did for the Phillies the last time.

“It’s never easy to be able to get done,” Dombrowski said, “but we’d love to keep Aaron in our organization for a long time.”

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Discussing Hoskins, Dombrowski said that he expects the 29-year-old to be the team’s starting first baseman in his final year of arbitration. From there, it’s still up in the air.

“Beyond this season, we’ll end up seeing what happens,” Dombrowski said. “He does not have an agent that usually likes to sign contracts before somebody becomes a free agent, so I understand that situation. But I look forward to Rhys being part of our ballclub all year long.”

A client of superagent Scott Boras, it’s unlikely that Hoskins will sign an extension before the end of the season. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t like to stay in Philadelphia for the long haul.

Earlier this offseason, Boras lobbied for the Phillies to re-sign Hoskins, a steady figure in the clubhouse and batting order since debuting in 2017. Of course, the team will weigh its options at the position, but finding a clear upgrade will not be easy.

“And we have to remember this — some people can’t play in Philadelphia,” Boras said to NBC 10. “Some people can’t play in major markets. And you already know that you have someone like Rhys who can. And I think you need to take those things seriously, because a lot of players who have a lot of skill can come here and not be effective. And when you have a proven commodity in a major market like this, you have to really do your best to hold on to them.”