Arlingtin, TX – Formers Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi received an unexpected phone call that left him stunned. The Texas Rangers veteran was getting his $100,000 All-Star bonus despite not making the 2025 team.
“I was very surprised when [president of baseball operations Chris Young] called and told me that they would be paying me my All-Star bonus,” Eovaldi said. “I was very thankful and appreciative.”
The Rangers’ gesture recognizes what many consider one of baseball’s most egregious All-Star snubs this decade.
The former Yankees right-hander has dominated hitters this season with a 1.58 ERA that would lead MLB if he had enough innings. His month-long injury absence in June cost him just six innings needed for statistical qualification, ultimately contributing to his All-Star omission despite otherworldly numbers.
Yankees connection runs deep through Rangers success
Eovaldi’s journey from the Bronx to this career renaissance spans nearly a decade. The Rangers acquired him as part of their championship core after he left New York following injury-plagued seasons in 2015 and 2016.
The Yankees traded for Eovaldi from Miami in December 2014, sending Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Marlins. His New York tenure produced mixed results – a brilliant 14-3 record in 2015 followed by struggles and season-ending elbow surgery in 2016.
“He developed his split-finger fastball with us,” a former Yankees coach noted about Eovaldi’s time in pinstripes. That signature pitch now anchors his arsenal as he posts career-best numbers at age 35.
The Yankees released Eovaldi in November 2016 after Tommy John surgery. His winding path through Tampa Bay and Boston ultimately led to Texas, where he won his second World Series ring in 2023 and signed a massive three-year, $75 million extension in December.
Statistical dominance meets organizational class
Eovaldi’s 2025 numbers read like video game statistics. His 0.85 WHIP ranks second in the American League behind only Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. Opponents are hitting just .194 against him with a microscopic .523 OPS.
“Eovaldi has been brilliant this season,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote, calling the Rangers’ bonus payment “a cool gesture.”
The organization recognized that injury timing, not performance quality, led to the snub.
The right-hander missed exactly one month with right triceps tightness, from May 29 through June 27. He returned with dominant outings, including a complete game shutout against Cincinnati that marked Texas’ first “Maddux” since 2015.
Rangers management believed Eovaldi’s performance merited All-Star recognition regardless of technicalities. Chris Young’s personal phone call delivered news that resonated throughout baseball as a class organizational move.
All-Star selection process fails elite performer
The 2025 AL All-Star pitching staff includes several questionable selections that highlight systematic flaws. Casey Mize of Detroit received a replacement spot despite posting a 2.63 ERA and 1.179 WHIP – numbers that pale compared to Eovaldi’s dominance.
Shane Smith of the White Sox made the team as Chicago’s mandatory representative with a 4.20 ERA and losing record. Meanwhile, Eovaldi’s 6-3 mark and elite metrics were ignored.
Baseball analysts widely criticized the selections. “Probably a little more deserving than Seattle’s Bryan Woo,” ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle wrote about both Eovaldi and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan as major oversights.
Only three pitchers since 1995 have posted sub-1.75 ERAs through 14 starts without making the All-Star team. Eovaldi joins Al Leiter (1998) and Tim Wakefield (1995) in that exclusive group of statistical anomalies.
The “one team representative” rule particularly hurt Eovaldi’s case. Teams with poor records still get All-Star spots, forcing inferior players onto rosters while deserving candidates from mediocre teams get overlooked.
Contract extension pays immediate dividends
Eovaldi’s new deal includes performance bonuses that extend far beyond All-Star recognition. His contract features Cy Young Award bonuses ranging from $50,000 for fifth place to $250,000 for winning, plus World Series MVP and Gold Glove incentives.
The three-year, $75 million extension signed last December pays him $18 million this season, with increases to $25 million and $20 million in subsequent years. A full no-trade clause reflects the former Yankees star’s value to Texas’ championship aspirations.
“I’m thankful that they felt like I should have been on the All-Star team,” Eovaldi said about the bonus payment. The gesture strengthens his bond with an organization that supported him through injury recovery and recognized his contributions.
Texas currently sports MLB’s best team ERA at 3.28 despite a disappointing 48-49 record. Eovaldi anchors that rotation alongside Jacob deGrom, forming one of baseball’s most formidable one-two punches when healthy.
Championship pedigree drives Rangers loyalty
Eovaldi’s postseason resume includes two World Series championships and historic performances. His 18-inning relief appearance in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series with Boston set records for most pitches by a reliever in World Series history.
With Texas, he earned the winning decision in Game 5 of the 2023 World Series that delivered the franchise’s first championship. His 11-1 team record in postseason starts represents one of baseball’s most clutch performers.
The Rangers’ decision to pay the All-Star bonus reflects appreciation for leadership beyond statistics. Eovaldi’s veteran presence and championship experience make him invaluable to a young rotation seeking consistency.
As the season’s second half begins, Eovaldi remains positioned for Cy Young Award consideration if he stays healthy. His $100,000 bonus represents more than money – it’s organizational recognition that true value transcends external validation.
Rumors suggested he was the Yankees’ Plan B in case the Carlos Rodon pursuit fails in 2022. In 2023, the New York Yankees were eager for a reunion with the former ace, and Eovaldi was reportedly interested in a return to the Bronx. However, the Yankees failed to match the Rangers’ $34-million offer. Had New York succeeded signing him instead of Carlos Rodon, the Bronx history would have been different in 2025!
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