The Minnesota Twins effectively did nothing at the trade deadline. As injuries mount, they could use an infusion of talent. The Texas Rangers may be able to help, but how realistic are the possibilities?
Texas Rangers could dump pitching for the Minnesota Twins
Last season we saw the Los Angeles Angels part with a handful of players in August. The trade deadline has passed, but players claimed on waivers are still postseason eligible. Los Angeles sought salary relief that positioned them better for luxury tax purposes. The Texas Rangers could do something similar, and the Minnesota Twins handling of them over the weekend may have helped.
A team exposing players to waivers will typically do so if said player is in the final year of their deal. Texas has a handful of arms that fit that bill. Andrew Heaney, David Robertson, Kirby Yates, and Jose Leclerc all come to mind. Nathan Eovaldi is a different case, but he could be the one that excites Minnesota the most.
The Rangers signed Eovaldi to a two-year deal worth $34 million prior to the 2023 season . He is effectively in the final year of his deal, but a vesting option could keep him around in 2025 at $20 million.
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That’s probably the sticking point for the Twins, but their rotation could certainly use his services.
Would Nathan Eovaldi be logical for the Minnesota Twins?
As one of the best teams in baseball , the Minnesota Twins won’t have immediate waiver priority to add someone like Nathan Eovaldi. That stacks the deck against them immediately, and with his salary, ownership would need to approve a boost in payroll . If things worked out though, it’s hard not to argue in favor of the talent.
Eovaldi has a 3.76 ERA this season and has thrown 127 innings. He did experience some mild oblique tightness earlier this month, but pitched over the weekend against Minnesota. He has continued to rack up strikeouts, limit walks, and be among the more dominant arms in the game. A second-time All-Star last season, Eovaldi could be galvanized by the opportunity to go win a third World Series ring.
His 2025 salary becomes guaranteed should he throw 29 more innings during the regular season. The $20 million outlay is probably too much for Minnesota, but they could slow play his starts to keep him fresh for the postseason.
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Minnesota would be getting a 3.05 postseason ERA in just shy of 80 innings. Eovaldi would certainly represent an upgrade to the group come October.
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