Defending a World Series title is difficult. Especially when dealing with budgetary restrictions. After a dream 2023 season in which the Texas Rangers steamrolled through the American League playoffs en route to the first title in franchise history, the Rangers' title defense has been a disaster.
After an extra-innings loss Monday night, the Rangers sit 8.5 games out of a playoff spot at 55-64. They banked on themselves to improve after the trade deadline, and since then, they've gone 3-9, essentially flunking out of the fringes of the playoff race in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are under immense financial stress, sitting $14 million over the first luxury tax threshold amid uncertain television revenues. And one insider believes Texas could take a drastic step to mitigate some of that stress. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Rangers may be considering placing star pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on waivers as a cost-saving measure.
"Eovaldi will be owed about $2.7 million Aug. 31.
The Rangers, if they embarked on a waiver purge, could redirect some of their savings toward re-signing him," Rosenthal said. Eovaldi, 34, has been one of the most dependable starters in baseball the past five seasons. He has a 3.
97 ERA in 130 starts since the start of 2019. And in the postseason, he's an entirely different beast. In three postseasons with the Rangers and Boston Red Sox, Eovaldi is 9-3 with a 3.
05 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9.
That includes a memorable relief perf.