Atlanta Braves fans are understandably upset after news broke on Tuesday that Max Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees, one of the most reviled teams in baseball.
However, with quality pitchers still available on the market, the Braves had reason to remain hopeful about making a strong addition. This offseason, many experts linked the Braves to hard-throwing right-handed starter Nathan Eovaldi.
Eovaldi is a seasoned veteran known for attacking the strike zone and bringing a wealth of postseason experience. Having pitched alongside Chris Sale in Boston, he has earned two World Series titles with two different teams—the Red Sox and the Rangers.
Eovaldi appeared to be an ideal fit for the Braves’ rotation and matched the profile of pitchers Alex Anthopoulos typically targets. According to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, Eovaldi was reportedly at the top of Atlanta’s offseason wish list. Unfortunately, those aspirations were short-lived, as he was signed shortly after Max Fried finalized his deal with the Yankees.
The right-hander chose to stay in Arlington, signing a three-year, $75 million deal with the Texas Rangers. Texas had been in the race for Max Fried alongside the Red Sox, but it appears Eovaldi became their fallback option after missing out on Fried.
Braves lose free agent target Nathan Eovaldi to the Rangers as pitching market continues to go wild
It’s truly unfortunate, as Eovaldi would have been an ideal addition to Atlanta’s rotation. His combination of high-quality pitching and extensive postseason experience is exactly what every starting rotation in Major League Baseball strives to have.
About a week ago, we discussed the Braves and Orioles as potential suitors for Eovaldi, and I thought he would be an excellent fit for a two- or three-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $20–$25 million. That’s exactly the contract he received, and considering his skill level, it’s a fair price. It’s surprising the Braves couldn’t match that offer. Ultimately, it might have come down to Eovaldi’s desire to stay in his home state, but we may never know for sure.
The Texas native delivered a strong 2024 season, posting a 3.80 ERA across 170.2 innings with a 3.83 FIP. He recorded an 8.8 K/9 rate, issued 42 walks, and tallied 166 strikeouts. Notably, his 23.9% strikeout rate was his highest since 2021.
This puts the Braves in a challenging position as their external options for next season are rapidly diminishing. Mark Bowman recently noted that the Braves might shift their focus away from Eovaldi and instead bring back Charlie Morton, allowing them to prioritize acquiring an impactful outfield bat.
There’s still ample time for the Braves to address their roster needs, but understandably, fans are starting to grow impatient with the lack of action so far.
