Its free agent projection time
Jim Bowden of the Athletic has released his list of the top 45 free agents this offseason, with contract predictions, and yes, it is Ralph, but its still worth taking a look at.
The Texas Rangers’ top free agent, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, comes in at #20 on his list, with the Rangers listed as one of the best fits. Bowden has Eovaldi pegged at 2 years, $42 million with a team option, which seemed low to me, but what do I know.
Eovaldi largely duplicated his 2023 season in 2024 — 3.63 ERA and 3.88 FIP compared to 3.80 ERA and 3.83 FIP, slightly better walk and K rate, slightly worse HR rate — but with offense down league-wide in 2023, as well as the Shed playing more pitcher-friendly relative to the league compared to 2023, his ERA+ went from 118 to 104. Vibes aside, Eovaldi is probably a 3/4 starter on a championship contender, though one with bonus points for playoff track record, being the world’s greatest teammate, and, well, vibes.
Believe it or not, Eovaldi is on the only Ranger on Bowden’s list. No Kirby Yates, no Andrew Heaney, no David Robertson, no Max Scherzer. I’d have thought Yates or Heaney might be on the list ahead of, say, Alex Verdugo, or Matt Boyd, or Jordan Montgomery (who Bowden acknowledges isn’t going to opt out of his deal anyway). But there you go.