MLB rumours: Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers have reportedly agreed terms on a free-agent deal. According to Jeff Passan, the deal is a 2-year, $34 million deal with a third-year vesting option and performance bonuses.
Eovaldi, who turns 33 in February, is from Texas and was drafted by the Dodgers from Alvin High School in 2008. He bounced around and had limited success until 2018, when he put up a 3.81 ERA in 111 innings, mostly in rotation between Boston and Tampa Bay. He then joined the Red Sox on a four-year deal, was poor in 2019 but good after that. He finished fourth in the 2021 Cy Young Award pick when he made 32 starts and had a 3.75 ERA and 2.79 FIP in the America League.
This deal is pretty much in line with predictions for Eovaldi going into the off-season, which is likely lower than it would have been a week or two ago given the deals have beaten expectations. Rangers lose their third-round pick for signing Eovaldi, having already lost their second-round pick after signing Jacob deGrom.
Rangers have signed three high-beta guys this offseason in deGrom, Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney, all of whom have checkered pasts in terms of injuries but have also shown the ability to play at a high level. If everyone is healthy, that would bullpen Jake Odorizzi as a long man/spot starter and Dane Dunning at AAA, although not everyone is likely to stay healthy all season.
Rangers have an impressive and deep rotation that would be among the best in the league if everyone is healthy and fulfilling their abilities. There is still a need for a DH/COF that we will likely see filled at some point over the next few months, but I don’t think anyone can complain about the state of the pitching staff.
UPDATE – More financial details from Passan:
Details on Nathan Eovaldi’s deal with Texas, per source:
Base: two years at $34 million
Bonuses: up to $3 million per year if he reaches 160 IP, which he did in 2021
Player Option: If he pitches 300 innings in 2023-2024, he gets a $20 million option in 2025 with an additional $3 million in bonuses
Max: three years, $63 million
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 28, 2022
UPDATE II – The Eovaldi deal is official. To make room on the 40-man list for Eovaldi, Rangers have designated Nick Mears for the assignment. Mears was claimed on waivers from Pittsburgh last week.