The market for free agent pitchers is vast this offseason, and the Braves will certainly utilize it to fill their own needs.
Atlanta has been tied to a few names so far but some experts believe they are focusing their efforts on bringing back Max Fried and Charlie Morton.
As great as it would be to see either of them return, it isn't guaranteed that they pitch for the Braves in 2025. Fried is getting tons of interest, especially after Blake Snell signed with the Dodgers. Charlie Morton's regression in 2024 doesn't make his addition a sure thing either.
However, there is a free agent arm Atlanta has been tied to already this offseason that makes a lot of sense. Mark Bowman mentioned earlier this month that Atlanta was targeting Nathan Eovaldi after he declined his $20 million option with the Rangers.
Braves could reunite former teammates Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi according to recent free agent rumblings
Now, MLB insider Jon Morosi confirmed that is indeed the case. He mentioned on Wednesday during an interview on MLB Network that the Braves and Orioles are among the teams interested in Nathan Eovaldi's services.
The Orioles and Braves are among the teams with interest in free agent Nathan Eovaldi, as I mentioned on @MLBNetwork this morning.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 27, 2024
Eovaldi fits the bill for the type of pitcher that Alex Anthopoulos likes to target. He would be a perfect candidate for a two-year deal around $20 to $25 million AAV with an option for a third season. He is a seasoned pro with great stuff and fits the bill of previous deals done by AA, including Charlie Morton, Josh Donaldson, and NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale.
The right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA over 170.2 innings (29 starts) in 2024 with a 3.83 FIP, 8.8 K/9, 42 walks, and 166 strikeouts. Eovaldi also had a 23.9% strikeout rate, the highest rate he's reached since 2021. Coincidentally, this is when Eovaldi and Sale were teammates in Boston.
He is also a seasoned postseason pitcher and that's something Anthopoulos likes for his pitchers to have. There has been interest in Eovaldi in the past and for good reason. He is 9-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 career postseason starts. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018 and then once again with the Rangers in 2023.
Nathan Eovaldi, 98mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/nO2s9kqV9a
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2024
However, there are some slight concerns to consider such as a pair of Tommy John surgeries and an elbow cleanup procedure in 2019. He still made 54 starts in 2023 and 2024 combined so there is still some durability there. He pummels pitches into the strike zone and gets pretty good chase as indicated by his 32.2% chase rate in 2024, so it makes sense why he'd be atop Atlanta's list.
He also owned a great groundball rate in 2024 of 48.9% and Atlanta has one of the best infields in baseball. They would help support Eovaldi more if he were to sign with the Braves. Couple that with Eovaldi's impressive 6.0% walk rate and you have a perfect addition to the rotation.
Rumors are just rumors but multiple links to Eovaldi now make it feel all the more likely he pitches for the Braves in 2025.