ARLINGTON, Texas — Player options fall into one of three categories – Club, Player and Mutual.
Five days after the conclusion of the 2024 World Series, players and clubs must decide whether to exercise those options.
Club options mean that the Texas Rangers can pick up the option and the player would play the following season at the agreed-upon salary. Player options leave the decision up to the player, giving them the chance to return at the agreed-upon salary or enter the free agent market if they decline.
Mutual options can be exercised by either the club or the player, but both sides have to agree in order for the player to stay on the team at the agreed-upon salary. If either player or club declines the option, the player enters free agency.
The Rangers have three players with options to make decisions on coming up following a disappointing 2024 season. Each player represents one of the three options.
Nathan Eovaldi - Player Option - $20 million
The decision for the right-handed bulldog from Alvin, Texas is not one that will be made easily. Entering his age-35 season, Eovaldi is coming off a season that, at times, felt like a step backward, but peripherally, was a better season than 2023.
While his ERA went up slightly, the split-finger artist made four more starts, pitched in 26 ⅔ more innings to lead the team, allowed fewer walks, struck out more, had a lower WHIP, and a better K/BB ratio.
Eovaldi’s age would seem to warrant a 2-3 year deal. Coming off a season in which he made $17 million, a $20 million salary for next season would seem to make sense but more security than a simple one-year re-up is likely what Eovaldi is looking for.
The Rangers, in need of overall pitching depth, certainly wouldn’t mind it if Eovaldi picked up his option and rejoined the team in 2025. But with ownership making it priority No. 1 for the team to get below the luxury tax, it’s possible that they will be forced to see him leave on a multi-year deal elsewhere.
Andrew Chafin – Club Option - $6.5 million
Yes, it was established that the Rangers are likely to seek overall pitching depth, so at $6.5 million, Chafin as a middle reliever would sound like a decent deal. But Chafin, who has value as a left-handed reliever, struggled mightily after coming over from Detroit ahead of the trade deadline in July.
Chafin struggled with command, pitching in half as many games with Texas as he did with the Tigers while issuing nearly as many walks. He gave up three home runs in Texas, compared to two with the Tigers and saw his ERA inflate by just over a full run.
The Rangers, potentially looking to cut money where they can, are likely to decline Chafin’s option and then see what his price is at on the open market. If they can re-sign him for around the same $4.25 million salary that he had last season, they would prefer to go that route.
David Robertson – Mutual Option - $7 million
The former Marlins and Yankees closer bet on himself by signing a one-year deal with the then-World Series champion Rangers and it looks like he’s going to come out ahead. Robertson had an excellent year as the Rangers’ set up reliever, pitching to a 3.00 ERA in 68 games, totaling 72 innings with a 3.4 BB/9 and a 12.4 K/9 with the most strikeouts since his All-Star season in New York in 2011.
Robertson earned $10 million in 2024, and, as he enters his age-40 season, a $7 million price tag makes sense for a premium reliever. Still, based on the salary drop for the option year, it would appear that Robertson understands what would be a concern to the Rangers and any team – can he still be the premium reliever at another year older?
If Robertson still believes so, he could very easily decline his option, examine the open market, and potentially return to the Rangers and try to find a salary closer to his 2024 number. He could very well return to the Rangers if his search proves unfruitful; by that same note, Robertson could opt to eliminate the drama of the offseason waiting game, opt into his mutual options, and begin preparations for the 2025 season.
These decisions will be among the first that the Rangers face once they are finally dethroned by either the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers after the conclusion of the World Series. It wouldn’t seem favorable to believe any of these pitchers will return on their option, but each one could be back in Texas if the price is right.
Do you think the Rangers should look to bring back Nathan Eovaldi if he declines his player option? Share your thoughts with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
