George Bissell discusses Nathan Eovaldi‘s bounce-back potential with the Rangers and more in Friday’s Offseason Lowdown.
Texas-Sized Spending Spree Continues
The Rangers continued their dramatic starting rotation overhaul this week, signing free agent right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year, $34 million contract with a $20 million vesting option for 2025. The 32-year-old reliable veteran workhorse was limited to just 20 starts last season for the Red Sox due to injuries, but still finished with a solid 3.87 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 103/20 K/BB ratio across 109 1/3 innings. He missed five weeks due to lower back inflammation in mid-June and also was shelved for nearly six weeks in mid-August due to right shoulder inflammation. The positive news is that he’s expected to be fully healthy for spring training, and will join a completely rebuilt Texas starting rotation spearheaded by marquee free-agent acquisitions Jacob deGrom and Andrew Heaney, along with returning veterans Martín Perez and Jon Gray. Clearly, the Rangers believe they’re ready to compete right now for an AL West division title.
It’s a fantastic landing spot for Eovaldi, health permitting, as he should benefit exponentially from a run prevention standpoint by trading Fenway Park’s high-octane offensive environment for the offense-suppressing tendencies of Globe Life Field, which has graded out as a league-average ballpark (and well below-average from an over-the-fence power standpoint) over the last three years. The presence of pitch-framing wizard Jonah Heim behind the plate for the Rangers is another added bonus in his favor. It may be unrealistic to forecast greater than 160 innings this season, especially given his age and injury history, but fantasy managers should feel comfortable selecting Eovaldi as a top-60 fantasy starter and a viable back-end rotation stabilizer in deeper mixed leagues. It’s always a risky proposition to bank on a starting pitcher coming off an injury-marred campaign, but it’s difficult to imagine a more ideal setting for Eovaldi to put together a rebound effort.
There’s a strong argument that Eovaldi was the last-remaining marquee free agent on the starting pitching market, which likely means that teams looking to upgrade their starting rotations will re-direct their gaze to a stagnant trade market. Modern front offices aversion to prospects-for-veterans type swaps has been the driving force behind a dormant climate for throwback challenge trades, and the prevalence of rebuilding organizations, juxtaposed by a handful of big-spending contenders filling their needs through free agent spending, has led to only a few blockbuster swaps this offseason. That may change considering the slim picking left out there in the free agent pool. Soon-to-be 37-year-old Johnny Cueto, who came out of nowhere to deliver a solid campaign last year for the White Sox, is the most prominent name left among an uninspiring group that also includes Zack Greinke, Michael Wacha, Dylan Bundy, Zach Davies, Wade Miley, Chad Kuhl, Chris Archer and Japanese righty Shintaro Fujinami. Given the lack of quality options left, fantasy managers should expect the trade market to heat up once the calendar flips to January.
Segura Taking Talents To South Beach
The Marlins finally made their big move in free agency on Wednesday evening, acquiring some much-needed offensive firepower, by agreeing to a two-year, $17 million contract with free agent infielder Jean Segura, according to Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital and Christian De Nicola of MLB.com. The versatile middle infielder, who turns 33 years old in March, batted .277/.336/.387 with 10 homers and 13 steals in 387 plate appearances over 98 games last season for the division-rival Phillies. Philadelphia. He was also a key contributor during Philadelphia’s unexpected postseason run to the Fall Classic. He’ll likely take over as Miami’s primary third baseman and offers some appeal in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats. The halcyon days of 20-plus stolen bases are likely in the rearview mirror, but Segura has a chance to reach double-digit homers and stolen bases this season and also offers some help in the batting average department.
MLB Quick Hits: Braves signed C Sean Murphy to a six-year, $73 million contract extension with a $15 million club option for 2029 … Giants signed LHP Taylor Rogers to a three-year, $33 million contract … Royals signed RHP Jordan Lyles to a two-year, $17 million contract … Dodgers signed OF/DH J.D. Martinez to a one-year, $10 million contract … Mets re-signed RHP Adam Ottavino to a one-year, $7.25 million contract with a $7.25 million player option for 2024 … Cubs signed C Tucker Barnhart to a two-year, $6.5 million contract … Pirates signed LHP Jarlín García to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with a $3.25 million club option for 2024 … Braves re-signed RHP Jackson Stephens to a one-year, $740,000 split contract … According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Pirates and free agent left-hander Rich Hill are in agreement on a one-year, $8 million contract … Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Red Sox and free agent right-hander Corey Kluber have agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with an $11 million club option for 2024 … Hyun Jin Ryu (elbow) told reporters that he’s targeting a July return from Tommy John surgery … Royce Lewis (knee) is not expected to return for the Twins until late June or early July … Braves acquired LHP Lucas Luetge from the Yankees for INF Caleb Durbin and RHP Indigo Diaz and also acquired OF Eli White from the Rangers for cash … Yankees signed RHP Tyler Danish to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Blue Jays signed RHP Julian Fernández to a minor league contract … Reds signed C Austin Romine and RHP Alan Busenitz to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training … Braves designated 1B Lewin Díaz for assignment … Pirates designated RHP Bryse Wilson for assignment … Giants designated INF Tommy La Stella for assignment … Dodgers designated RHP Jake Reed for assignment … Royals designated 1B Ryan O’Hearn for assignment … Mets designated RHP William Woods for assignment … Rangers designated RHP Nick Mears for assignment … Cubs designated C P.J. Higgins for assignment … Gregory Polanco has signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball … Marwin Gonzalez has signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
