Nathan Eovaldi is rejoining the Texas Rangers with a three-year, $75 million contract. Last time he was with the team, he had an impressive run, collecting 24 wins and nearly 300 strikeouts, making it to the All-Star Game, and even winning a World Series title. In 2024 alone, he pitched in 29 games, achieving a record of 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA and striking out 166 batters while walking only 42 over nearly 171 innings.
However, Eovaldi’s career has not been without its challenges. He has faced numerous injuries over his thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball. These include two Tommy John surgeries and several shoulder issues that have limited him to making at least thirty starts just twice.
Despite these setbacks, Eovaldi’s potential shines through when he’s healthy and on top of his game. He can deliver ace-level performances; for example, last season’s first half saw him boasting a stellar ERA of 2.97. Before getting injured in 2023, he maintained an impressive ERA of just 2.69 over almost 124 innings across nineteen starts. His postseason stats are also noteworthy: a career playoff record of nine wins against three losses with an ERA of just above three.
Rangers’ Rotation Outlook:
The Rangers didn’t offer Eovaldi a qualifying deal earlier but seem to have patched things up as he’s back on their roster now. With him returning to the fold, here’s how their starting rotation might shape up:
– Jacob deGrom (RHP)
– Nathan Eovaldi (RHP)
– Cody Bradford (LHP)
– Jon Gray (RHP)
– Tyler Mahle (RHP)
Kumar Rocker could also play an important role after debuting last season with promising results—a solid start for such a young pitcher! Dane Dunning remains another option since he’s been versatile enough to pitch both from the bullpen or as part of the rotation these past couple years.
Fans might wonder if this lineup will help Texas bounce back from last year’s disappointing finish at just under .500.
There’s certainly risk involved here due to injury concerns surrounding players like deGrom or Mahle alongside less experienced talents such as Bradford or Rocker who bring uncertainty regarding performance consistency—but there’s undeniable talent within this group too!
The Rangers celebrated their World Series victory in ’23 but stumbled afterward ending that next season at seventy-eight wins against eighty-four losses—what do you think lies ahead for them?
