The Rangers and Red Sox have discussed a trade that would send second baseman Rougned Odor to Boston for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. It’s unclear whether the trade would include Texas taking on extra money or if prospects would be in the deal, according to Grant.
Odor, who’s making a prorated $9MM in 2020, is in the fourth season of a six-year, $49.5MM contract that includes a remaining $27MM. The deal also features a $13.5MM club option for 2023, but the way Odor’s career has gone, his employer’s sure to buy him out for $3MM. When Odor signed his pact in 2017, he was coming off back-to-back 2.5-fWAR seasons, but he has seldom revisited that form since then. In fact, going back to the first season of the contract, Odor has slashed a less-than-stellar .216/.281/.412 with 81 home runs, 38 stolen bases and 0.6 fWAR across 1,853 plate appearances. His 17 wRC+ this season over 86 trips to the plate ranks next to last among 224 hitters who have amassed 80-plus PA.
Eovaldi, whom the Red Sox acquired from the Rays in 2018, was one of their many standouts during their run to a World Series that year. He was on the cusp of free agency at the time, but his down-the-stretch success convinced Boston to hand him a four-year, $68MM contract during the ensuing offseason. Unfortunately for both sides, though, the move hasn’t gone well. Eovaldi, 30, missed a large portion of last season with injuries and, despite 97 mph velocity and 8.65 K/9 against 1.57 BB/9, hasn’t done well to keep runs off the board this year. Overall, he has pitched to a woeful 5.65 ERA/5.45 FIP in 102 innings since landing his big payday. He’ll be due another $34MM after this season, and his annual $17MM luxury tax bill is another negative for a Red Sox team trying to avoid the line, as Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe notes. Odor’s CBT bill comes in at a much more palatable $8.25MM.
Should this change-of-scenery swap go down, the Red Sox would be landing a potential second base starter who’s still just 26. The injury-plagued Dustin Pedroia has barely been a factor since 2018, and he may never play again because of knee issues. And his year’s primary second base options – Jose Peraza and Jonathan Arauz – have mustered weak production. Meanwhile, Eovaldi would at least give the Rangers another arm in a rotation that’s in flux. The Rangers just parted with Mike Minor in a trade with the Athletics on Monday, and it appears Lance Lynn could also move before the 3 p.m. CT deadline.
Lol Odor is the worst 2nd baseman in baseball, what’s up with Bloom?
I think the answer is in the write-up, Odor comes with a far superior Luxury Tax hit.
Far lesser CBT hit. But superior because of that for Boston.
hes an idiot
Maybe Bloom likes to get punched in the head.
I still say Bloom acts like a TB mole/double agent planted in BOS to screw with things.
JK. Sort of.
Eovaldi for Odor would have to be one dumbest ideas of all time. If I was sitting on the other end.of the phone in TX when that call came in it’d be a done deal.
Simply put, Odor stinks! As another poster wrote it would be tax relief but I don’t see it happening.
If this is a straight up deal Texas would be dumb not to take it. Eovaldi is at least a useful reliever in some capacity.
Are you sure a trade involving Odor passes the smell test?
Loooool what??? What is the the purpose of this possible trade for the Sox???
Saves them money.
Yeah but it’s not much and Eovaldi at least has a chance to be a formidable pitcher in the last two years. Odor is not even close to a MLB caliber player anymore.
But they don’t need to save money…they’re already under the tax limit. This trade makes no real logical sense for Boston unless their coaches noticed something with his swing they think they can fix.
Bloom has really alienated any good faith that Sox fans might have given him since he came aboard. Seems like he’s got some kind of ego since he’s committed to shipping out every part of the 2018 WS team.
It looks like he’s traded away all his non controllable assets for younger guys. That’s what happens when you try to rebuild.
I’m a ranger guy, and I think u hit the nail on head. Odor sucks and is a complete liability for rangers. But I fully expect that hell become a star for his next team. Hes proven the skillset is there, just hasnt done it consistently. Dude can go on a tear and hit 5 Homer’s and go 8-18 and look like a mvp caliber player for a week. Then goes in slump and gets 3 hits the rest of month. It’s either something in his mechanics or head but could be fixed in change of scenery
A bad contract swap?? But without other prospects being involved it’s pretty much just a salary dump for Boston
Seriously, does Odor throw a knuckleball? Tim Wakefield could come out of retirement and get outs more reliably than some of these guys who may only be major leaguers in this strangest of seasons.
Oh god please no, Texas can keep Odor
Are the Sox in position to be getting rid of pitching?
I think a 5.65 ERA/5.45 FIP that’s frequently injured won’t be missed…
I don’t think so. Somebody’s gotta eat innings for the next month. From what I see they’re already running on a skeleton crew.
I personally think that Odor isn’t a great fit in Boston, and the current pitching staff without Eovaldi wouldn’t be describable. Even if this does save Bloom some money, it’s not worth giving up prospects. Also not sure why the Rangers would do this when they just traded Mike Minor, and are in talks to move Lance Lynn. All in all seems like an inefficient trade for both sides.
wtf Chaim…
Odor is a total headache. Please no.
Do they really think Odor is better than Chavis?
Chavis is not a long term second baseman. He’s a DH or corner guy if he develops and cuts down on strikeouts. Otherwise, he’ll be gone by 22
Hate to see it.
“And his year’s primary second base options – Jose Peraza and Jonathan Arauz – have mustered weak production”
Compared to Odor they’ve both delivered stellar production. Odor’s current slash line is .150/.198/.288. Peraza’s .252/.294/.337 blows that away, as does Arauz’s .308/.325/.359.
Not to mention it was awesome to hear Matt Vasgersian pronounce it arouse
a formal buyout structure would be great for this reason. seems like every team in baseball has at least one bad contract, and some such as Davis, Miggy, and these really hurt (though its more a concern with these two contracts because these two teams currently have higher payrolls and also want to stay under the cap)
Miguel Cabrera has earned every single dollar he will ever get in major league baseball
This move serves nothing for Boston but dumping money. But Odor?
Boston is dumping salary but I thought they would trade JBJ too. Everyone on Boston should be able for right price except for Xander, Devers and Verdugo. Sale could be available for the right price too.
If Bloom is willing eat part of his contract the Twins should be in on Eovaldi. I get he’s inconsistent and injury prone, but I believe his stuff is worth gambling on.
Bloom is not eating salary. It’s the hit for this year that apparently is key. If this trade happens, it suggests to me he may make another deal before the deadline that takes on salary. Just my take. This is if there is another deal.
Yeah Connor, Arauz is doing much better then Odor! Would rather stick with Evoldi,
If this trade happens, Red Sox fans should ask for Bloom’s head. The idea of trading for a guy who should be in AAA or released by Texas is total nonsense. Now, you can argue salary all you want. Two problems with that:
1) Salary is coming off the books after this season
2) Red Sox need some starting pitching for 2021
All that for a guy that is only a major league player because of his bad contract? Yeah, if Bloom is running the Red Sox I feel pretty darn good as a Jays fan. And, Jon Daniels saves his job if he pulls this off.
Bloom has made three trades so far, and I like all three. Sometimes a GM will see something in former uber prospects, but my guess is that Bloom wants to put word out that other teams are interested in Eovaldi.
That’s cool. Using a guy unfit to stay in the major leagues as a means to put the word out that Eovaldi is available immediately puts him in a position of weakness and minimizing any leverage in negotiations.
In Bloom I trust.
That would be a great trade from Texas’ point of view. Get rid of a terrible player/contract and get a pitcher back that they could try to tweak and turn around similar to Minor and Lynn.
Odor lead the league in strikeouts last year, with some power Isn’t that exactly what we have in Chavis?
Here’s the discussion:
TX: can we send you our worst player for your best pitcher?
BOS: no.
Granted, he’s only their best pitcher because of a decimated staff, but it’s just a silly trade idea.