Rangers Have Received Interest In Gore, Eovaldi

The sale may be on in Arlington. Reports emerged yesterday that the Rangers could pivot to selling after a weekend sweep by the Astros pushed their losing streak to five games. That might put Jacob deGrom, Joc Pederson and even Corey Seager into play this afternoon, though all three players are on contracts that’d be complicated by high salaries and/or no-trade protection.

Texas could go further than that. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Rangers are open to conversations regarding anyone on their roster. Jon Morosi of The MLB Network reported this morning that Texas had had conversations regarding Nathan Eovaldi. Jon Heyman of The New York Post adds that they’ve also taken calls on starter MacKenzie Gore and All-Star closer Jacob Latz.

Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports pushes back slightly on the characterization of the Rangers’ as committed sellers. He reports that Latz is unlikely to move when he’s cheaply under contractual control for another four seasons. Wilson writes that the front office is keeping their options open but not locked into selling.

Presuming Latz stays put, Gore would be the easiest of the aforementioned names to trade. He’s playing on a $5.6MM salary and under arbitration control for one additional season. The Rangers dealt five prospects, including 2025 #12 overall pick Gavin Fien, to acquire Gore from Washington over the winter. He’s having a disappointing season from a run prevention perspective, posting a 4.77 ERA across 23 starts.

Gore is still sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball and has plus strikeout and walk marks, however. He’s a 27-year-old lefty with plus stuff and pedigree as a former #3 pick. There’d remain considerable trade interest despite Gore’s frustratingly inconsistent results throughout his career. Texas should be able to command a top 100 caliber prospect if they deal him.

Eovaldi would be tougher to move, closer to the deGrom/Pederson bucket. The two-time All-Star is signed for $25MM this season (roughly $7.4MM to be paid through season’s end) and $20MM next year. He’s also still owed $12MM in signing bonuses, though Texas will be responsible for those even if they trade him before they come due. Eovaldi also a full no-trade clause.

This hasn’t been the 36-year-old righty’s best season. Eovaldi carries a 4.31 ERA across 127 1/3 innings. He’s averaging just under 95 mph with the fastball and still has excellent strikeout and walk marks, but he has been increasingly susceptible to the home run. There’d surely still be teams that view him as a playoff starter, but the salary and no-trade rights complicate matters.

It remains to be seen if anything will come of the Rangers’ open-minded stance. They’re only 2.5 games back in the AL West and were atop the division as recently as Friday. They could yet be modest buyers for bullpen and/or right-handed outfield help. Texas would surely like to clear some of their long-term commitments off the books, though that’s not an easy balance to strike without conceding their hopes in 2026. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggests they’d target controllable starting pitching if they sell. That’d be difficult to acquire outside of a Gore or Latz trade unless Texas pays down some of their bigger salaries.