Pair of postseason contenders reportedly pursuing Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi

There have been no shortage of rumors this offseason.

Usual suspects like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to a number of star talents. But, the Texas Rangers have been relatively quiet. Now, a pair of contenders are apparently looking to sign someone who has been one of Texas' most reliable arms over the last few years.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi recently reported that the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves are interested in signing free agent starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The Texas native has been one the Rangers' most consistent forces on the bump, and may be lured away by a squad that is looking to make a deep October run.

Eovaldi earned a 12-8 record with a 3.80 ERA across 170.2 innings of work last season. He could be considered a true top-end option, but teams like Atlanta and Baltimore may see him as more of a middle-of-the-pack kind of arm given what they already have.

Both the Braves and Orioles made the playoffs in 2024. While neither team was a true juggernaut , injuries and other shortcomings held them back. They were each above league average in terms of team ERA and FIP.

As a result, they may feel that adding Eovaldi will enhance their already solid pitching programs and help them stay ahead of any potential departures or injuries. Additionally, this is not the first time Eovaldi has been linked to the Braves this offseason.

Pair of postseason contenders reportedly pursuing Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi

Rangers president of baseball operations, Chirs Young, has expressed interest in retaining the 34-year-old. It is not known how much the Rangers will be willing to invest, but it seems as though pitching will be one of their top priorities.

In a perfect world, Texas will attempt to pair Eovaldi with Jacob deGrom at the top of the rotation. This is not a guarantee since the franchise may be attempting stay under the luxury threshold, and might not be willing to pay Eovaldi for a short-term arrangement.

Eovaldi's choice may come down to the financials in play, the kind of role he wants to have, and the level of responsibility he's willing to take on.