The Texas Rangers have added another experienced pitcher to their revamped starting rotation.
Nathan Eovaldi, a native of Texas, agreed to a two-year contract with a vesting player option for the 2025 season on Tuesday. The deal was announced after the right-hander passed a physical in Texas.
Eovaldi’s signing comes only 3 1/2 weeks after the Rangers signed free agent two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.
According to a person familiar with the agreement, Eovaldi was guaranteed $34 million, with salaries of $16 million in 2023 and 2024, and a $2 million signing bonus payable later. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team did not disclose the terms, which include a $20 million vesting player option for 2025 if Eovaldi pitches 300 innings over the next two seasons.
“I’m overjoyed to have added another standout pitcher to our rotation in Nathan Eovaldi,” said Rangers general manager Chris Young in a statement. “Nathan has quality stuff and an unrivalled work ethic, and he’ll bring a veteran presence to the team. The depth of our starting pitching will be a valuable asset to the Texas Rangers in 2023.”
Eovaldi has pitched for five teams in 11 major league seasons, the last four and a half with the Boston Red Sox. He went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA in 2022 despite being limited to 20 starts due to two stints on the injured list (lower back inflammation and shoulder). In 2021, he was 11-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts, making him an All-Star for the first time and finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
In 240 career games (221 starts), he is 67-68 with a 4.16 ERA for the Red Sox, Miami, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay. He will turn 33 in February, just before spring training begins.
Before the winter meetings this month, DeGrom agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers.
Texas also signed free agent lefty Andrew Heaney to a two-year, $25 million contract, acquired Jake Odorizzi in a trade with Atlanta, and retained All-Star lefty Martin Pérez with a $19.65 million qualifying offer. The Rangers signed right-hander Jon Gray to a four-year, $56 million contract last winter, at the same time they added Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to their half-billion-dollar middle infield.
The Rangers have lost six consecutive games, their longest losing streak since moving to Texas in 1972. In October, three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy emerged from a three-year retirement to become their new manager.
Right-hander Nick Mears was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Eovaldi. Mears was acquired by the Rangers last week on a waiver claim from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
