DALLAS — The Texas Rangers have officially secured Nathan Eovaldi for the next three years with a lucrative contract worth $75 million, ensuring he remains an integral part of their starting rotation. The right-handed pitcher played a vital role in the Rangers’ recent success, notably being the winning pitcher in the decisive Game 5 of the 2023 World Series. The organization expressed a clear goal this offseason to bring Eovaldi back, sealing the financial agreement earlier in the week, contingent upon him passing a physical examination.
In order to accommodate Eovaldi on the roster, the Rangers designated right-hander Roansy Contreras for assignment. Eovaldi became a free agent on November 4 after opting out of a $20 million player option for the 2025 season, a move the Rangers had anticipated. The team is eager to retain the Texas native, who is set to celebrate his 35th birthday in February.
Upon opting out, Eovaldi received a $2 million buyout, which he earned by surpassing 300 innings pitched during his two seasons with the Rangers after joining the team in free agency. Under the terms of his new contract, Eovaldi will receive a $12 million signing bonus—half of which will be paid on November 15, 2026, and the remainder on January 15, 2028. His annual salaries are structured at $18 million for the upcoming season, increasing to $25 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027, accompanied by a full no-trade clause.
Eovaldi’s signing was announced during the winter meetings, coinciding with Max Fried’s substantial agreement with the New York Yankees, which set a record for left-handed pitchers at $218 million over eight years. This news leaves 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes as the most prominent pitcher still available on the free agent list, following a successful season with the Orioles where he recorded a 2.92 ERA with a 15-9 record in 32 starts.
Eovaldi will join Jacob deGrom in the Texas rotation. DeGrom, a two-time NL Cy Young Award recipient, made only three starts last season after recovering from a lengthy injury hiatus that lasted almost 17 months due to right elbow surgery. Notably, the Rangers won all six of deGrom’s starts early in the 2023 season before his injury.
The Rangers had signed Eovaldi and deGrom before the start of the 2023 campaign, with Eovaldi’s previous two-year deal valued at $34 million, featuring $16 million salaries for each year along with the buyout. Meanwhile, deGrom’s contract was more extensive, totaling $185 million over five years.
During their championship run, Eovaldi excelled in the postseason, achieving a perfect 5-0 record combined with a 2.95 ERA across six starts. He was instrumental in clinching the championship for the Rangers in the World Series, further solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer. Eovaldi also contributed to the Boston Red Sox’s 2018 championship success.
Over the last two seasons, Eovaldi has recorded a 24-13 record with a 3.72 ERA in 54 starts, garnering an impressive 298 strikeouts over 314 2/3 innings. In the 2023 season specifically, he posted a 12-8 record with a 3.80 ERA across 29 starts. He also capped off the season by throwing seven scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
This contract marks Eovaldi’s sixth team in Major League Baseball, having previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami, the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay, and the Boston Red Sox. Throughout his career, he has accumulated a record of 91-81 with a 4.07 ERA in 294 games, with 275 of those being starts since his MLB debut in 2011.
Contreras, who is 25, was recently claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on October 31. Last season, he recorded a 2-4 record with a 4.35 ERA, contributing in 46 relief appearances and three starts for both the Angels and the Pittsburgh Pirates.