Nathan Eovaldi: Rangers Ready to 'Win’
New Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi believes the team is in a position to win in 2023, which is one of the reasons he decided to sign with the Rangers in free agency.
Eovaldi had his introductory press conference with general manager Chris Young on Thursday at Globe Life Field.
He said there were plenty of reasons to sign with the Rangers, but also said the time is now for the organization to show it can win.
“I just think now it's time to prove to the younger guys and the guys that are already here that we can compete and we can win,” Eovaldi said.
Eovaldi was referring to the wealth of young pitching the Rangers have in the minor league system. More than half of their Top 30 prospects are pitchers, including their last two first-round picks — Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.
“We have an abundance of starting pitching and that's not even reaching down into the minor leagues for the arms that are ready to come up,” Eovaldi said.
Eovaldi is the fourth starting pitcher the Rangers have acquired this offseason. The Rangers showed interest in the south Texas native — he pitched at the same high school as Nolan Ryan — but was the third pitcher the club signed.
First was New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom, snagging him on a five-year, $185 million deal just before the winter meetings. Shortly after came the two-year, $25 million deal for former Los Angeles Dodgers starter Andrew Heaney. Before that, the Rangers traded starter/reliever Kolby Allard to the Atlanta Braves for starter Jake Odorizzi, who is in the option year of his contract.
The four join holdover starters Martín Pérez — the Rangers Pitcher of the Year for 2022 — and Jon Gray, who signed as a free agent last offseason.
“I feel that they want to win,” Eovaldi said. “And it you know, it starts with this season.”
Eovaldi, 33 next month, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. He was undefeated on the road (4-0) and his 2.64 road ERA was ninth-best in the American League.
He has a career record of 67-68 with a 4.16 ERA with the Dodgers (2011-12), Miami Marlins (2012-14), New York Yankees (2015-16), Tampa Bay Rays (2018) and Boston (2018-22).
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and Twitter.
Need to catch up on the Rangers? Check out our Texas Rangers Offseason Central Page!
