The Texas Rangers are bringing back Nathan Eovaldi on a three-year contract, the team announced.
Eovaldi's pact is reportedly worth $75 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Eovaldi spent the past two seasons with the Rangers and became a free agent after declining a $20-million player option with Texas for 2025.
The 34-year-old registered a 3.72 ERA and 8.5 K/9 in 314 2/3 innings over the last two seasons and posted a 5-0 record with a 2.95 ERA during the Rangers' 2023 World Series run.
Eovaldi was also 87th percentile in chase percentage last season, with opposing teams hitting just .200 off his splitter, and finished seventh among qualified starters with a 48.3% ground-ball rate.
Texas was reportedly in on left-hander Max Fried before he signed an eight-year, $218-million deal with the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Rangers also were in on Fried. Team’s RSN outlook growing more encouraging. Would have backloaded deal for Fried, and might be doing same with Eovaldi. Three years, $75M, per @JeffPassan
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2024
The Rangers were on the hunt for a starter to join a rotation that's expected to include Jacob deGrom, Jon Gray, and Tyler Mahle next season.
Cody Bradford, Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter, and Dane Dunning are also options to start as Texas looks to rebound from a disappointing 78-84 campaign in 2024.
The Rangers designated right-hander Roansy Contreras for assignment to make room for Eovaldi on the 40-man roster.
