Rangers flamethrower expected to opt out of contract after strong 2024

The Texas Rangers were unable to defend their World Series title. After winning it all last October, they stumbled to a 78-84 record and missed the postseason.

To make matters worse, they may lose a key member of their starting rotation this offseason.

34-year-old right-hander and postseason standout Nathan Eovaldi has a $20 million player option for the 2025 season. The option kicked in after he hit the 300-inning threshold between 2023 and 2024.

However, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report expects the veteran right-hander to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

"After topping 300 total innings between 2023 and 2024, Nathan Eovaldi has a $20 million player option for 2025. Whether he gets more than that on the open market for the 2025 season, it makes sense for the veteran righty to opt out," Kelly wrote.

"Eovaldi has never been an iron man, but he has an extended postseason resume, having won World Series titles as a member of the Red Sox and Rangers.

He also posted a 3.72 ERA across 54 starts for the Rangers the past two season, so he should get a multi-year deal in free agency well in excess of $20 million total."

Eovaldi has seemingly gotten better with age. He's been a standout in the postseason, and while he obviously isn't pitching this October, that should help him get a pretty lucrative deal.

But with the Rangers' financial situation uncertain due to the Bally Sports issues, Eovaldi is likely not going to return in 2025.

It will be interesting to see what kind of deal he receives and how the Rangers will replace him if they lose him.

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