The Marlins and Ricky Nolasco are "putting the finishing touches" on a three-year contract extension worth $27MM, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. The deal is not yet finalized, but the two sides came close to agreeing to terms according to Frisaro's source. Nolasco needs to take and pass a physical as well.
A three-year deal would buy out Nolasco's two remaining years of arbitration-eligibility as well as one year of free agency. He earned $3.8MM in 2010. Just yesterday we heard that the two sides had hit a bit of a snag in their negotiations, but Nolasco's agent Matt Sosnick told us that they remained optimistic about getting a deal done. Clearly, his optimism was warranted.
The 28-year-old Nolasco posted a 4.51 ERA in 157.2 innings this past season, though he once again put up stunning peripheral stats. He struck out 8.4 batters per nine innings pitched and walked just 1.8 per nine unintentionally. For his career, he owns an 8.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 (again removing intentional walks), though he is a bit homer prone (1.2 HR/9).
Nolasco had been mentioned as a trade candidate if the two sides were unable to work out a new contract.
This post was originally published on December 19th.
