The Mets are heading into the offseason with a familiar problem and a fresh opportunity. They need rotation help, and if the market starts to move on established starters, New York should be right in the middle of it.
One name that has already surfaced is Nathan Eovaldi. The two-time World Series champion could be available this winter, with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reporting that the Texas Rangers are expected to look into moving several of their pricier players as they try to “reallocate” payroll and stay competitive in 2027.
That puts Eovaldi back on the Mets’ radar. New York had interest in him last offseason before he chose to return to Texas, and now he’s entering the final year of his three-year, $75 million deal. The two-time All-Star could again be a realistic target if the Rangers decide to listen.
There is one obvious catch: Eovaldi would have to waive his full no-trade clause. If he’s willing, though, the Mets have a strong case to push hard.
They are expected to chase an ace to lead the staff in 2027, but they also need a dependable veteran who can steady a young rotation. Free agency offers options such as Clay Holmes, Tyler Mahle, Kevin Gausman, and Michael Soroka, but New York already has several young arms in the organization and more prospects coming. That could make another long-term pitching commitment less appealing.
That concern grows even more if the Mets land a frontline starter like Tarik Skubal on a long-term contract. Adding another multi-year rotation piece on top of that could crowd out the next wave of pitchers.
Eovaldi, by contrast, fits as a shorter-term bridge. He can help now without tying the Mets down for years, and he’d bring the kind of veteran presence that can stabilize a staff.
He’s still producing, too. Last season, Eovaldi threw 145.2 innings and finished with a 4.20 ERA, 144 strikeouts, a 4.19 FIP and a 1.22 WHIP.
At 36, his splitter remains a major weapon. Baseball Savant credited the pitch with a +10 run value last season, and it ranked in the 97th percentile among off-speed pitches.
What also separates Eovaldi from a lot of the arms on the market is how often he works deep into games. In 14 of his 23 starts last season, he got through at least six innings, a valuable trait in today’s game.
There’s also the October factor. Eovaldi has appeared in 17 postseason games and owns a 3.05 ERA in those outings, helping the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers win World Series titles.
From a trade standpoint, he may also be one of the more manageable targets. Unlike pitchers such as Drew Rasmussen and Logan Gilbert, acquiring Eovaldi likely wouldn’t cost the Mets a top prospect if they’re willing to absorb his full $24 million salary for 2027, something they’ve been willing to do before.
The one question New York can’t answer yet is whether Eovaldi would want to come back to the city where he pitched for the Yankees in 2015 and 2016. But if he’s open to it, the Mets should be ready. For a team looking to patch together its rotation, few available mid-rotation starters would offer more immediate value.
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