NL contender could threaten Rangers' bid to re-sign Nathan Eovaldi

There always seems to be another team lurking around the corner.

Despite rumors that the Texas Rangers are looking to reunite with starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi this winter, one MLB insider has predicted that the Atlanta Braves could be a fit for the two-time World Series champion.

Fox Sports' Rowan Kavner mentioned Atlanta as a potential destination earlier this week, and cited factors such as the kind of deal Eovaldi may be willing to ink.

"A vesting player option kicked in this year for Eovaldi when he tallied more than 300 innings over the past two years in Texas," Kavner said. "At 34, he's still plenty productive, and his history of postseason success should make him an attractive short-term add for a contender. Possible fits: Rangers, (Baltimore Orioles), (New York Mets), Braves, (Boston Red Sox)."

NL contender could threaten Rangers' bid to re-sign Nathan Eovaldi

Of the teams mentioned by Kavner, the 34-year-old may be most enticed by the Braves. They have been a league threat for a considerable amount of time, and have had a track record of supporting older arms like Chris Sale and Charlie Morton. From the Braves' side of things, signing Eovaldi would be a wise choice, especially if Max Fried decides to take his talents elsewhere.

Eovaldi is coming off a season in which he went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA across 170.2 innings of work. His longevity and Postseason experience have made him a favorite in Arlington. Fans would surely embrace seeing the Houston native headline next season's rotation alongside a fully healthy Jacob deGrom.

President of Baseball Operations, Chris Young, mentioned that re-signing Andrew Heaney and/or Eovaldi would be priorities for the club this offseason, but it is not known just "how far" they are willing to go to accomplish this task.

The team has a number of holes in the bullpen they must fill. Further, the front office may also opt to tweak the lineup after a lackluster 2024. To make matters even more interesting, all of these changes might have to come as the franchise attempts to stay under the luxury threshold.

Keeping Nathan Eovaldi in Texas would be a major win for the Rangers, but a squad like the Braves could easily steal him away for the right price.