Nathan Eovaldi Among Five Best Remaining Free Agent Pitchers

Christmas is over but that doesn’t mean Major League Baseball’s free-agent shelves are completely bare.

Teams still in need of pitching can still find some quality help even if such hurlers as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodon have already signed. Here is a look at the five best pitchers left on the market (in alphabetical order):

JOHNNY CUETO

Cueto has finally bounced all the way back from the Tommy John surgery that limited him to 13 starts combined for the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

In his first season with the Chicago White Sox this year, Cueto had just an 8-10 record but a fine 3.35 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP that was in line with his career norms. The 36-year-old right-hander did give some reason for concern, though, with just 102 strikeouts in 158.1 innings.

All in all, he provided good value on a one-year, $4.2-million contract.

NATHAN EOVALDI

A strong case can be made that Eovaldi is the best free agent, regardless of his position, that remains on the board.

Limited to 20 starts because of back and shoulder injuries, Eovadi went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. He also had a 1.23 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 109 innings while completing a four-year, $68-million deal.

Durability concerns are at least somewhat mitigated by the fact the 32-year-old righty made an American League-high 32 starts in 2021 and was selected to the All-Star Game that season.

COREY KLUBER

Kluber clearly isn’t the same pitcher who won AL Cy Young Awards in 2014 and 2017 for Cleveland. However, the 36-year-old right-hander could still be an asset.

Kluber’s 31 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays this year were his most since 2018. He also led the AL with just 1.2 walks per nine innings while compiling a 10-10 record, 4.31 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP.

The low-budget Rays had to feel Kluber was worth his one-year, $8-million contract.

MATT MOORE

Left-handed relievers have become somewhat devalued over the last two seasons since MLB instituted the three-batter minimum rule.

However, Moore had an outstanding season for the Texas Rangers in 2022 in his first full year working out of the bullpen. Moore, 33, had a 1.95 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 63 appearances with 83 strikeouts in 74 innings.

Moore, who made $2.5 million, isn’t just a left-on-left specialist. He held right-handed batters to a .165 average in 188 at-bats.

MICHAEL WACHA

The 30-year-old right-hander has never been able to completely recapture the form of his rookie season in 2013 because of shoulder problems. He was the National League Championship Series MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals that year.

However, Wacha had what might have been the best full season of his career in 2022. In 23 starts for the Red Sox, the 31-year-old posted an 11-2 record, 3.32 ERA, and 1.11 WHIP.

Wacha worked 127 1/3 innings and struck out 104 at a salary of $7 million.