The Texas Rangers, already grappling with a mounting list of injuries, now face a pivotal crossroads as their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Nathan Eovaldi, the team’s ace and one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitchers this season, is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season due to a rotator cuff strain—a blow that has left both the clubhouse and fans reeling. With just under five weeks left until the regular-season finale and 29 games remaining, the Rangers find themselves 5 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s final wild-card spot. The pressure is on, and the front office is scrambling for answers.
Eovaldi’s absence couldn’t have come at a worse time. The 35-year-old right-hander, who signed a $75 million, three-year contract extension last December, has been nothing short of spectacular in 2025. Sporting an 11-3 record and a career-best 1.73 ERA, he was just shy of qualifying as the MLB’s official ERA leader when the injury struck. “It just felt like it was getting a little worse, so I shut it down and had the trainers look at it,” Eovaldi told reporters following an MRI that revealed the extent of his shoulder woes. “Obviously, it’s just frustrating given how great the season’s been going. ... I don’t want to rule out the rest of the season, but it’s not looking very great.”
Team president Chris Young echoed the collective disappointment, saying, “Obviously it’s a big blow. He’s been just a tremendous teammate and competitor for us all year long. Hate to see this happen to somebody who’s been so important to the organization. But it seems par for the course with how some of the season has gone. So hate it for Evo, hate it for the team.” Eovaldi’s injury comes on the heels of a string of setbacks for the Rangers. Center fielder Evan Carter suffered a right wrist fracture after being hit by a pitch in Kansas City, while durable second baseman Marcus Semien fouled a pitch off his left foot in the same game, landing him on the injured list for only the second time in his 13-year career. First baseman Jake Burger also joined the IL with a left wrist sprain, compounding the team’s injury woes.
Semien and Eovaldi could return if the Rangers make a deep playoff run, as neither is expected to require surgery. Semien’s recovery is estimated at four to six weeks, and Eovaldi will undergo another MRI in about a month. But with the clock ticking and the margin for error shrinking, Texas must act swiftly to keep their postseason dreams alive.
That urgency has prompted the Rangers to explore external options for their beleaguered pitching rotation. One name that’s quickly risen to the top of the rumor mill: Andrew Heaney. The left-hander, who played a pivotal role in Texas’s 2023 World Series championship run, was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. Heaney’s 2025 campaign in Pittsburgh has been rocky—he posted a 5-10 record and a 5.39 ERA over 26 appearances (23 starts)—but his familiarity with the Rangers’ system and his postseason pedigree make him an intriguing option.
Heaney’s situation with the Pirates was complicated by contract incentives. The front office, seeking to avoid triggering a $100,000 bonus tied to reaching 130 innings pitched, shifted him to the bullpen late in the season and ultimately cut ties as Pittsburgh faded from playoff contention. The Pirates, sitting 25 games out of first in the NL Central and 13.5 games behind in the Wild Card race, had little to gain by keeping the veteran lefty on the roster.
Should the Rangers take a chance on a reunion? Financially, the move is feasible. If Texas waits for Heaney to clear waivers and then signs him, the club would owe only about $120,000—a pro-rated fraction of the major league minimum. Claiming him off waivers, however, would mean assuming the remainder of his $5 million salary (about $800,000), plus a potential luxury tax surcharge if the team’s payroll exceeds $241 million. Either way, the cost is manageable compared to the potential upside, especially given Heaney’s recent history with the club.
Heaney’s previous stint in Texas was a career highlight. In 2023, he posted a 10-6 record with a 4.15 ERA and delivered a memorable performance in Game 4 of the World Series, pitching five innings and allowing just one earned run to help secure the championship. That kind of experience could be invaluable as the Rangers look to steady a rotation rocked by injuries and inconsistency.
Of course, Heaney isn’t the only option under consideration. The club has also looked internally, but prospects like Kumar Rocker remain works in progress. Rocker, 25, has spent August in Arizona working on mechanical tweaks aimed at improving his delivery and reducing stress on his arm. “We want to optimize his mechanics to get the best version of him,” Young explained. “We want to take stress off his arm and improve the quality of his pitches.” Rocker last pitched in the majors on July 31 against Seattle before being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. In five starts prior to his demotion, he posted a 5.11 ERA over 24 2/3 innings, surrendering six home runs and allowing an .822 OPS. His lone start at Round Rock was equally bumpy, as he gave up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
With Rocker still fine-tuning his mechanics and Jacob Latz stepping in for a spot start against the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers’ rotation remains in flux. Manager Bruce Bochy and Young have both indicated that the team will continue to evaluate all options, internal and external, as they navigate this critical stretch. “We want to see Rocker again in the majors this season, but want him to first complete the projects he’s working on in Arizona,” Young said Wednesday.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Texas not only trails Seattle in the wild-card standings, but also faces tiebreaker disadvantages against both the Mariners and Kansas City Royals. The team’s pitching staff, which leads MLB with a 3.43 ERA, has been a major strength all year, but the recent rash of injuries threatens to unravel that success. Eovaldi, who was left off the All-Star team despite his stellar numbers, still received a $100,000 bonus for his performance—a testament to his value both on and off the field. With a career 102-84 record and a 3.89 ERA, plus World Series rings with Boston (2018) and Texas (2023), his leadership and consistency are irreplaceable.
As the regular season barrels toward its conclusion, the Rangers find themselves at a crossroads. Will they roll the dice on a familiar face like Heaney, or will they trust their young arms to rise to the occasion? One thing’s for sure: with their playoff hopes flickering, every decision from here on out carries enormous weight. The next few weeks promise to be a wild ride in Arlington, and the baseball world will be watching to see if Texas can weather the storm and keep their October dreams alive.
