The Texas Rangers roster is already undergoing changes just days into the offseason. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi has opted out of his contract, becoming a free agent and testing the open market. Despite the move, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters, including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, on Monday that the club has “great interest” in reuniting with him this winter.
Texas Targets Return of Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi, a Texas native, joined the Rangers on a two-year deal in free agency, which included a vesting player option for 2025 contingent on throwing 300 innings between 2023-24. He surpassed that threshold with 314 2/3 innings and went 24-14 with a 3.72 ERA in 54 games.
In his two seasons with the Rangers, Eovaldi rose to the occasion in the 2023 postseason. He helped the Rangers win their first World Series title while going 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA over six starts. The 34-year-old is a two-time World Series champion with a 3.05 ERA in 79 2/3 postseason innings. This season, he went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts, allowing 147 hits in 170 2/3 innings.
Eovaldi joins Max Scherzer, Andrew Heaney, Kirby Yates, Jose Leclerc, and David Robertson in the free-agent market. Texas has several significant gaps to fill in their pitching staff this offseason. For Eovaldi, this makes him an intriguing free-agent option who could serve as a valuable addition to a rotation. Other pitchers likely to be in the middle tier of free agency this winter include Sean Manaea, Nick Pivetta, and Luis Severino.
According to Spotrac, Nathan Eovaldi is projected to sign a contract worth approximately two years and $50 million. The sports database site analyzed Eovaldi’s market value and compared it to Sonny Gray‘s recent contract, which was a three-year deal totalling $75 million with the St. Louis Cardinals last offseason. As Eovaldi approaches his 35th birthday on Opening Day, he finds himself in a critical juncture of his career, with limited opportunities remaining to secure a long-term, lucrative contract.
Main Photo: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
