MLB Free Agency: Best Bargains This Offseason
By Jason Reed
Nathan Eovaldi
The Tampa Bay Rays recently signed Nathan Eovaldi to a one-year deal worth $2 million – also throwing in a club option for 2018. On the surface, one may doubt the Rays’ logic in bringing in a guy that has a very slim chance to pitch next year, but looking more in-depth, it is a genius move. The very low salary, combined with the fact that the Rays have a club option, makes this deal seem genuinely genius. If the Rays do not think Eovaldi can contribute in 2018, they can simply part ways, only taking a hit of $2 million.
However, if the Rays like how Eovaldi is looking heading into 2018 they can exercise their option and bring him back. This essentially leads to the Rays getting a season’s worth of pitching for only $4 million, which seems like a very sensible gamble. On an already young pitching staff, this move can add to the low-cost, high-output system. The Rays do not have a single pitcher receiving more than $5 million annually, and if they all progress like expected they could be dangerous very quick.
As for Eovaldi’s production, he has always seemed like that guy that is right on the cusp of breaking out. 2015 saw Eovaldi toss a 14-3 record with a 3.2 WAR. His strikeout and walk rates were decent, and his home run rate was fairly low. With a shrink in his earned run average, Eovaldi could be a dynamic addition behind Chris Archer. Heck, even if this deal doesn’t pan out for the Rays they are only losing $2 million of payroll.