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Rangers Could Trade Eovaldi to Create Payroll Flexibility
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- Rangers Could Trade Eovaldi to Create Payroll Flexibility
(© Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)
The Texas Rangers will look to adjust their roster after missing the postseason for a third consecutive season. The exact nature of those changes remains uncertain.
Texas will likely operate under the same financial restrictions it faced last offseason, when president of baseball operations Chris Young needed to reduce payroll.
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Those limitations could force Young to trade expensive players or release arbitration-eligible players who no longer fit the Rangers' plans.
Financial considerations will not be the only factor in determining who returns in 2027. Individual performance, Texas' desire to build a more versatile lineup and the availability of MLB-ready players in the minor leagues will also shape the decisions.
One of the players most likely to leave before Opening Day is Nathan Eovaldi.
Why Eovaldi could leave Rangers
The Rangers value Eovaldi, and the feeling is mutual. The Texas native enjoys pitching for the organization and signed a three-year, $75 million contract before the 2025 season to remain with the team.
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However, Eovaldi is entering the final year of that agreement. He has also missed at least one month during every season he has spent with the Rangers because of injuries.
The right-hander is coming off his worst season with Texas. Eovaldi finished 11-10 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 145.2 innings over 27 appearances (23 starts), recording 142 strikeouts against 71 walks.
Trading Eovaldi would allow the Rangers to remove the final $25 million of his contract from their payroll. Texas could also seek a younger MLB-ready player in return, giving the organization a more affordable piece for 2027 and beyond.
The difficulty is that the Rangers lack considerable starting pitching depth behind Eovaldi. Moving him would create a substantial opening in the rotation that Texas would need to fill through another trade, free agency or an internal option.
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Eovaldi's value
Eovaldi brings experience, toughness and the confidence required to handle important assignments.
His connection to Texas also matters. Eovaldi chose to remain close to home and has demonstrated that pitching for the Rangers carries personal significance.
He possesses the composure to work through difficult innings without allowing one mistake to dictate the remainder of an appearance. His experience also gives younger pitchers a reliable example of preparation, recovery and accountability.
Durability remains the primary concern. A veteran starter can only stabilize a rotation when he remains available, and Eovaldi's repeated absences have prevented Texas from relying on him throughout an entire season.
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The Rangers must balance those qualities against his salary, age and injury history.
Trading him could provide financial flexibility and a younger player, but removing Eovaldi without securing a credible replacement would leave the rotation weaker and create another expensive problem for Young to solve .
