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Texas Rangers' World Series Champion Likely to Hit Contract Threshold on Tuesday

It seems as if Nathan Eovaldi will reach the innings needed for his vesting option to hit in Tuesday's start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Brady Farkas

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Aug 23.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Aug 23. / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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There's significant money on the line on Tuesday night when the Texas Rangers take on the Toronto Blue Jays in Arlington.

With just four innings pitched, Nathan Eovaldi of the Rangers will hit the innings needed for his contract to vest for 2025.

MLBTradeRumors laid out the situation:

Rangers right-hander is just four innings shy of triggering a vesting player option valued at $20MM. He’s pitched four or more innings in 24 of his 26 starts this season, so it’s extremely likely that Eovaldi will see that option vest today

Eovaldi signed with the Rangers before the 2023 season and helped them win the World Series a season ago. His contract vests at 300 innings pitched between the two seasons, and he's at 296 right now. This gives Eovaldi all the power moving into the offseason: He can remain with the Rangers at $20 million and pair with the likes of Jacob deGrom to make up the core of the rotation, or he can opt-out and get more money elsewhere over a multi-year deal.

The 34-year-old Eovaldi has been solid this season, going 11-8 with a 3.67 ERA. He's struck out 150 batters in 152.0 innings. He's also been durable, making 26 starts.

Lifetime, Eovaldi is 90-81 with a 4.06 ERA. He's in his 13th major league season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Rangers. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series as well.

First pitch in the Rangers-Blue Jays game is 8:05 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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