The Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to bringing back pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, one of the heroes from the team’s 2018 World Series run.
Robert Murray of The Athletic reported that talks between Eovaldi and the Red Sox were “intensifying,” while Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports talked numbers.
hearing Eovaldi, Red Sox talks are getting serious, as @ByRobertMurray said. talk heard was for four years at close to 17M a year.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 5, 2018
Eovaldi had one of the best years of his career in 2018, posting a 3.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and an 8.2 K/9 rate for the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.
But Boston saw how good Eovaldi was in the biggest moments. He had a dominant postseason, putting up a 1.61 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 6.4 K/9 rate.
The biggest question moving forward will be Eovaldi’s health.
If healthy, Eovaldi’s stuff (let by a powerful fastball) would likely make him, at worst, a very good relief pitcher. That said, health has been an issue. Eovaldi has had Tommy Surgery twice in his career.