Aug. 15: Nola has indeed elected free agency, per the transaction log at MiLB.com.
Aug. 13: Nola has cleared waivers, and the Rockies have sent him outright to Triple-A Albuquerque, according to the transaction log on his MLB.com player page. He has the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, but he can also choose to accept the assignment and rejoin the Isotopes. He is currently listed on their roster on MiLB.com.
Aug. 11: The Rockies announced Monday that they’ve designated catcher Austin Nola for assignment. His roster spot will go to righty Chase Dollander, who’s been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and will start tonight’s game versus the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Nola, 35, has spent the bulk of the season with Triple-A Albuquerque after signing a minor league contract over the winter but had his contract selected to the big league roster in early July. He’s gotten into 15 games for the Rox but turned in a lackluster .184/.225/.211 batting line in a small sample of 41 plate appearances. He was far better in 26 Triple-A games, slashing .347/.411/.474 in 106 trips to the plate.
The older brother of longtime Phillies starter Aaron Nola, Austin has appeared in parts of six big league seasons. He was excellent early on after breaking through with the Mariners as a 29-year-old rookie. The older Nola brother hit .280/.351/.476 in 377 plate appearances with the M’s in 2019-20, pairing that plus offensive output with the ability to play not only catcher but multiple infield and outfield spots.
The Padres coveted Nola’s production and versatility enough to surrender a package of prospects that included Andres Munoz, Ty France and Taylor Trammell to pry Nola and relievers Dan Altavilla and Austin Adams away from Seattle in 2020. Nola’s bat fell off to about league-average levels from 2020-22 following the trade before cratering in 2023. The Friars cut him loose after the ’23 season and he’s since bounced to the Brewers, Royals and now Rockies.
With the trade deadline behind us, the Rockies’ only course of action will be to place Nola on waivers. He’ll be made available to all 29 other teams, beginning with the worst record in the league and climbing through the best. Nola is out of minor league options, so any team that claims him would need to add him right to the big league roster. If he goes unclaimed, he’d have the right to reject an outright assignment to the minors in favor of free agency.
Unite him with his brother Aaron, in the City of Brotherly Love. Well Lehigh Valley AAA anyway, maybe gives Aaron a little boost as he gets ready to rejoin the big league club.
I am a Padres fan. I am surprised and happy for him that he made it back to the big leagues.
He got to pitch an inning this year (gave up 8 runs), and can say he made it to age 35 in the majors.
Blue Jays fans thank him as well <3
Our organization tried to draft both brothers early in their careers but they didn’t sign.
Also he was not the worst reliever that game 🙂
Yankees need pitching!
I agree but what does Austin Nola have to do with it?
4 days later …and you still don’t get the joke???
No and apparently only 1 person “got it”. You’re a real George Carlin.
He had a good 22 post season wish him luck
In the 2022 playoffs, Austin Nola was very good in the first two series, but only 1 for 19 in the NLCS. His overall batting line was 9 for 46 ABs, which is lower than .200, with all singles except for 2 doubles.
You can have Devin Williams free for him!
That’s what happens when you give up 8 runs in an inning…..
Not surprised given his ERA is 72.00. Coors Field is no excuse!
It really makes you wonder why they selected him and sent Braxton Fulford down a month ago now that Fulford is back and Nola is now gone. Just seems like a wasted month of the season.
Yeah, who knows how the season would have turned out for the Rockies without that wasted month! 😉
It;s not about the season. Bringing back a prime Lou Gehrig from the dead wouldn’t have saved this season for the Rox. But it did cost Fulford a month of development for no real reason other than to give ABs to a 36 year old journeyman that was about to opt out of his AAA contract.
I expect Fulford could develop at least as well catching regularly in AAA compared to once or twice a week as a backup in Denver.
There is some logic to that, but for a catcher I disagree. Backup catchers play more often than other positions in the majors and it lets them get to know the big league rotation and the way they like to work.
I guess that 8 run outing against the Jays did it
Nola is not a pitcher, so his ERA / runs allowed in a mop-up situation is likely not relevant here. . .
How tall are you?
Headed to the Phillies. September call up for catching depth and let him catch his brother one time during a late season Sunday game.
Another stiff gone., adios. Ntoo bad it isn’t Monfort.
Big day for the Nolas. Already 2-for-2 as the subject for MLBTR posts.
First Austin Barnes, now Austin Nola… hmm.
Next is Austin… Powers?!?
Austin Dean appears to be playing in the KBO, and Austin Jackson is retired.
I remember when the Pads traded for him and all the Padre fans were sure he was the answer…
Many Padres fans thought that Nola was adequate: above average on defense,
Nola could hit for average with very little power, managed and handled a pitching staff well etc…
He was an above average catcher who was good on defense, and could call a good game.
Baseball Trade that helped both teams.