The Philadelphia Phillies hoped their $172 million investment in Aaron Nola would lock down an ace for years to come. Instead, just two years into the deal, the right-hander has gone from staff cornerstone to what some are calling an "untradeable" contract—a stunning fall for a pitcher who was elite from 2017 through 2024.

The 2026 season has been a rollercoaster for the Phillies. Since Don Mattingly took over for the fired Rob Thomson, the club has shown signs of life. Bryce Harper is back to his MVP-caliber best, Kyle Schwarber is proving his $150 million extension was money well spent, and Brandon Marsh has emerged as a legitimate star. But one glaring problem remains: Aaron Nola's performance has cratered, and his massive deal has become an albatross.

According to Fansided's Zachary Rotman, Nola is now "untradeable." "The fact that he's a starting pitcher helps boost his value a bit, as every team could use more starting pitching," Rotman wrote. "But the length of this deal, paired with his declining ability and stuff, makes it very hard to move, and that's without mentioning his no-trade clause."

This season, Nola has posted a 5.14 ERA across eight starts. While that's an improvement over his disastrous 2025 campaign—when he logged a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts while battling injuries—it's still a far cry from the ace who dominated for nearly a decade. The 2025 season was year one of his $172 million extension, and even then, the contract already looked unmovable.

Now, with Nola continuing to struggle and signs of regression mounting, his combination of a massive contract, declining performance, and a no-trade clause has made him one of the most difficult players to move in all of Major League Baseball. For a Phillies team trying to build momentum, it's a reminder that even the best-laid plans can go sideways—and that sometimes, the biggest contracts come with the biggest risks.