While the Boston Red Sox may look to add pitching help before the MLB trade deadline, a high-profile ace won’t be part of those plans.
Nathan Eovaldi, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with Boston, would seem like a logical target if the Texas Rangers decide to sell. However, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that neither Eovaldi nor fellow Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom are “considered to be in play” in trade talks.
The Rangers entered the All-Star break with a 48-49 record, leaving their deadline strategy uncertain. Olney suggests that if the team makes any moves, they will be cautious and measured, potentially including outfielder Adolis Garcia.
Eovaldi has quietly been outstanding in 2025, boasting a 1.58 ERA over 16 starts. Among pitchers with at least 90 innings pitched, the 35-year-old ranks just behind Tarik Skubal in WHIP (0.85), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71), and FIP (2.36).
Despite missing a month due to right triceps soreness, Eovaldi’s WAR (3.0) surpasses that of deGrom and rumored Red Sox target Joe Ryan. His performance was so impressive that the Rangers rewarded him a $100,000 All-Star bonus, even though he wasn’t selected for the team.
Eovaldi holds a special place in Red Sox history after a stellar 2018 postseason where he posted a 1.21 ERA en route to the World Series title. He also helped Texas win the 2023 championship, going 5-0 in the playoffs and pitching six scoreless innings in the decisive Game 5 of the Fall Classic against the Diamondbacks.
