Rangers supplement Jacob deGrom with former Red Sox hero [Updated]
The Texas Rangers are back in the pitching market making a splash as they’re signing former Red Sox hero Nathan Eovaldi after already landing Jacob deGrom.
Pain for the Red Sox in an already excruciating offseason only continues as the Texas Rangers have continued to be aggressive in improving their rotation.
After landing arguably the biggest prize in free agency this offseason with Jacob deGrom heading to Arlington, Texas made another nice splash on Tuesday night as they agreed to a deal with Boston hero Nathan Eovaldi.
The news was first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray as the deal is pending a physical.
Free-agent pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a contract, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 27, 2022
Nathan Eovaldi contract details: Rangers add depth behind Jacob deGrom
Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the deal with Eovaldi and the Rangers is a two-year, $34 million pact with a vesting player option in the third year along with performance bonuses that could increase the value of the deal.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract that includes a third-year vesting player option, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Performance bonuses in the contract can take the total value even higher.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 28, 2022
Eovaldi became a hero for the Red Sox after joining the team from Tampa during the 2018 season. His postseason heroics, specifically in a long relief appearance during Game 3 of the World Series that year, made him an instant icon among the Fenway faithful. And he remained a stalwart of the team’s rotation over his 4.5 seasons with the club.
After earning an All-Star Game appearance in 2021 with the Red Sox, though, Eovaldi struggled to stay healthy in the 2022 season as he started 20 games but was still solid as he posted a 4.30 ERA, 109 ERA+ and a WHIP of 1.235. The veteran right-hander is still a solid cog in the rotation.
The Rangers are also a great spot for him given their recent moves. Eovaldi not only joins the unquestioned ace of the staff in Jacob deGrom after signing him to a monster contract early this offseason but also newcomers Andrew Heany and Jake Odorizzi along with another former Red Sox hurler, Martin Perez, and Jon Gray. That’s a strong, deep rotation that Eovaldi can fit right in with.
Given that pitching was very much an Achilles heel for Texas after they inked both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to big deals last offseason, the club is quite clearly ensuring that won’t be the case for the 2023 season and beyond.
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