Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi declined his $20 million player option for the 2025 season on Monday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.

According to Grant, Rangers general manager Chris Young said the team still has “high interest” in retaining Eovaldi.

The 34-year-old joined Texas as a free agent in December 2022, signing a two-year contract. contract worth $34 million with vested player option. He made the second All-Star appearance of his career in 2023 with the Rangers.

In two seasons with the Rangers, Eovaldi finished with a 24-13 record and a 3.72 ERA. He recorded 298 strikeouts against 89 walks in 314.2 innings on the mound.

Eovaldi played a crucial role in the Rangers’ 2023 World Series victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitching six scoreless innings in a 5-0 Game 5 victory that allowed Texas to close out the series .

Young hasn’t been shy about expressing interest in retaining the veteran, placing him alongside soon-to-be free agent Andrew Heaney as an offseason priority on Oct. 1.

“As far as Evo and Andrew, those are priorities for us,” Young said. Kennedi Landry from MLB.com. “We love those guys. They helped us win a World Series. We’d love to bring those guys back, and we’re going to explore every possible way to do that.”

With Eovaldi’s two All-Star appearances over the past four seasons as well as his recent playoff success, there should be no shortage of teams potentially interested in free agency.

MLB.com John Denton reported that the St. Louis Cardinals had targeted the right-hander at the trade deadline. The Cardinals could have interest in him again as a free agent.

After declining his 2025 option on Monday, Eovaldi could experience a change of scenery despite the Rangers’ desire to return.