Odor, Eovaldi swap discussed, per Grant

MLB Trade Rumors: A Rougned Odor and Nathan Eovaldi deal between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers has been discussed, according to Evan Grant on Twitter.

Eovaldi was signed to a 4 year, $68 million deal by the Boston Red Sox after the 2018 season. Eovaldi, who missed 2017 with Tommy John surgery, had been acquired by the Red Sox from the Tampa Bay Rays for Jalen Beeks in July, 2018, and followed up a strong stretch run with a great postseason, where he allowed just 5 runs in 22.1 IP over 6 outings in helping the Red Sox win the World Series.

Prior to 2018, Eovaldi had been a guy who was viewed as having really good stuff, but whose results didn’t match the stuff, and who struggled to stay healthy. Since signing his deal with Boston, Eovaldi’s results haven’t match his stuff, and he has struggled to stay healthy.

Eovaldi, a Houston native who was drafted out of Alvin High School, is still only 30, and there’s upside there. The Rangers could get him with an eye towards keeping him in the rotation, or using him out of the bullpen, where there’s some thought he might be better suited. Eovaldi is owed $17 million in 2021 and 2022, which is more than the $12 million per year Odor is owed over those two seasons, but Eovaldi also has more value (contracts aside) than Odor right now, which is why Evan says the Rangers would have to kick in a prospect or some cash if such a deal were to happen.

It is becoming apparent that the Rangers are pretty motivated to deal Odor.