February 23: Nola inked a split deal that pays him at a $975K rate in the majors and $175K for time spent in Triple-A, reports The Associated Press. He could tack on another $250K in incentives for games played in MLB: $50K apiece at 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 contests.
February 22: The Royals announced the signing of catcher Austin Nola to a major league contract. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (X links) first reported the deal. Kansas City placed Kris Bubic on the 60-day injured list to clear an opening on the 40-man roster.
Nola, a client of Paragon Sports International, had been in camp with the Brewers on a non-roster pact. GM Matt Arnold told reporters this evening that Milwaukee was granting him a release to pursue other opportunities (relayed on X by Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Milwaukee indeed has a fairly crowded catching depth chart. Nola was never going to supplant William Contreras as the starter. At the time he agreed to his deal on January 5, the backup role was going to be held by Eric Haase. Milwaukee added a clearer #2 catcher this week when they signed Gary Sánchez. Haase remains on the roster and is out of options. There was little chance of Nola securing an MLB job in camp unless one or two of the players above him suffered an injury.
It’s the second straight year in which Sánchez has blocked Nola’s path to big league playing time. That’s largely on account of the latter’s recent struggles, particularly last season. He’d been the Opening Day catcher for the Padres in each of the last two years. He got off to a very poor start in 2023, hitting .146/.260/.192 over 52 games. San Diego optioned him to Triple-A in mid-July, relying on the tandem of Sánchez (whom they’d claimed off waivers a few weeks earlier) and Luis Campusano for the stretch run.
Nola only appeared in eight Triple-A contests. He spent some time on the minor league injured list. In September, he revealed that he’d been diagnosed with oculomotor dysfunction, a vision disorder. While that could’ve played a role in his dismal production, it was nevertheless an easy call for San Diego to non-tender him. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected him for a $2.35MM salary if he were offered an arbitration contract.
That ended an overall disappointing tenure in Southern California. The Padres acquired Nola at the 2020 trade deadline from the Mariners. While the LSU product had hit .280/.351/.476 in a limited sample with Seattle, he managed a .234/.314/.320 slash over 819 plate appearances as a Padre.
His formerly strong defensive marks also dropped precipitously. Nola had rated as an above-average framer and blocker early in his career. Over the past two seasons, he has received very poor grades in both departments. Nola has roughly average arm strength.
Despite the recent struggles, he gets a 40-man roster spot in Kansas City. The Royals have Salvador Pérez and Freddy Fermín as the two catchers on the 40-man. Fermín played well enough last year to hold the backup job. Nola still has one minor league option remaining, though, so K.C. could keep him at Triple-A Omaha as needed.
Nola has four years and 45 days of MLB service. Players with five years of service can no longer be optioned, so Nola would have the right to refuse additional minor league assignments once he crosses the five-year threshold. That won’t happen until the second half of next season at the earliest. The Royals could keep him around for 2025 via arbitration, so it could be a multi-year pickup if Nola finds his form.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
got released fast wow
probably asked for it and the brewers did the right thing
Was rooting for him to get signed by the Phillies so maybe he could be able to catch his brother in a MLB game.
That would be cool to see.
Especially for their parents.
He sure looks a lot like his brother too. Must be, and I mean no disrespect by this, odd when you are the older brother and your younger brother is so good but he likely owes some of that to his brother, especially as a catcher. I’m sure he helped him. Being a big league catcher is impressive obviously
Don’t believe Nola started catching until a few years into his pro career.
That’s interesting but I’m sure he likely caught before. I have never heard of anyone transitioning to catcher in their pro career who never caught before. Many of the best athletes play SS and catcher coming up. Anywhere they can use the cannon frequently. Both of the best shortstops I ever played with also caught tho lesser leagues than professional
I coached both Nola brothers in high school and travel ball. They both actually started out as infielders, mainly SS, and then transitioned into their roles now as they moved through high school to LSU.
Me too. I think Stubbs is ok but he’s a clown and his act is old.
Thought there was a possibility of that happening after Aaron Nola signed his extension, was disappointed it didn’t. Austin is a smart player, coulda worked with our young pitchers at Lehigh. Big league opportunities would come on occasion, he can also play some INF. But I’m glad the Brew Crew did the right thing, this is a win for Austin and good get for the Royals.
“It’s the second straight year in which Sánchez has blocked Nola’s path to big league playing time”
savage
Not as savage as that girl that lied on Bauer she blocked now 3 seasons.
Have you taken your meds today?
Somebody has Bauer on the brain 24/7.
Now do the other two women. Bauer is garbage, consent or not.
Truth. Lindsay Hill was an employee of the Padres too…
That doesn’t say a whole lot about Nola’s abilities
Can’t say I really understand this. Nothing against Nola but not sure backup catcher is where we should be spending time and money.
Welp it’s deep in the off-season and spring training is starting and sometimes you go whereever there’s a check but let’s be honest if he can be healthy he probably makes the big league club one way or another with Salvador Perez doing more DH and having his injury issues. There’s a pathway to play and if you show out then you become a trade chip if a team like the royals is out of it. And then who knows where he will be at but more than likely in a winning team trying to compete.
Ha! Hilarious. First you defend Bauer. Then you think Nola is going to “show-out” and be a trade chip to a contending team in August. Newsflash bub – a/ Bauer is a woman-beater and b/ any team that needs a sub-par backup catcher with no redeeming components of his game at the trade deadline ain’t a contender.
People who spend all their time focusing on the negative traits of others do so for a reason. Mainly, because of how they feel about themselves. Low self esteem, low emotional intelligence, and insecurity are commonplace amongst people like this.
Nah. Just Bauer lovers who think Nola is a contender trade chip 🙂 too foolish to let slide.
I don’t think a backup catcher is a position that costs a lot of time and money to fill.
I defend anyone who has the evidence proving their innocence when you have text messages that are electronically time stamped where the woman in question is conspiring to “get the bag ” and have “Daddy choke me out” along with posting videos of her in bed after the alleged incident kissing to her cell phone then yea I’m gonna believe Bauer. In fact she should be arrested for insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy and filing a false police report.
Now on to Nola backup catchers get traded all the time hell my Braves used like 5 of them when they won the world series in 2021 so it’s not impossible for Nola who is a good defensive catcher to hit .220 and he would be an attractive piece to any club with is having catcher issues due to injury or poor play or an overachieving young team that may need a veteran presence behind the plate……
Thank you.
Do you recall that there was a hearing before an arbitrator? To this day, he is the only one who heard both sides. MLB presented what their investigation found. Bauer presented his side. Then, while he did reduce the suspension, he supported MLB giving Bauer the longest suspension in MLB history. All that was said in the hearing has never been revealed. Not by MLB. Not by Bauer. Bauer really hasn’t argued the ruling. There was quite a bit of money on the line to just let it go. But you be you.
LOL the comment about the independent arbiter in this thread really says all there is to say. Being legally innocent of a crime doesn’t absolve him from being a woman beater. He clearly enjoys it, hence his other victims. Violence against women is sick, period. But keep supporting that garbage, great look.
Also, LOL veteran presence behind the plate. Because a guy who can’t hit, can’t frame, can’t block, and doesn’t throw well gets all of that erased by being a veteran presence… and a contender is going to spend trade capital on that.
You live in a dreamworld. Join us in reality. Nola is not a good defensive catcher. He has no redeeming skillset.
They’ve already got a better backup catcher in Freddy Fermin.
Thank you Austin Nola for turning yourself into Ty France and Andres Muñoz for the Seattle Mariners, although Ty France kinda pissed me off last season with all his GDP’s. If France continues his middling ways thru the Deadline I will petition Dipoto for a swift France departure.
Melendez can catch to.
I found it odd they didn’t even mention him in the article.
He’s pretty much a full-time outfielder now.
I don’t get this move. The Royals can’t carry 3 full-time catchers and they already have Perez and Fermin. They could stash Nola in AAA but they already signed him to a major league deal. He only makes sense if either Perez or Fermin are injured. Both are better at and behind the plate. The club also has Melendez if they need an emergency Catcher.
Don’t worry, you’ll probably get flamed for saying so, like I did.
Seems a little odd that they mentioned Nola has vision problems and is a catcher lol. I think that might be a little important. I have vision problems too , so I’m not laughing at him.
I have vision problems too…I don’t see him getting any hits.
Salvy has vision problems too (been on il twice for blurry vision). Good thing Fermin is solid and leon is there. Actually, kc kinda stacked at catcher (porter, jenson, etc)
Is Sandy Leon in camp with KC or not? Signing was reported, but can’t find him in any roster.
Leon is but he was a minor league signing. Of course he hopes to get back to the majors. I do and I’m 58. Probably means I’ll have to buy tickets like everyone else .
I’ve always liked this guy and followed him more than his brother Aaron on fantasy baseball. Loved how at one time he played several positions and covered the catcher spot.