Nathan Eovaldi has given the Boston Red Sox a massive lift this year, but the team hasn’t given the right-hander any indication they want him back in 2019.
The Red Sox are busy trying to win a World Series title at the moment, but it’s never too early for the Boston front office to consider the franchise’s immediate future. That’s why it’s surprising to learn that no one has reached out to Nathan Eovaldi about the possibility of signing a new contract to keep him in Beantown next season.
The talented right-hander recently told WEEI he’d “love to be back” but he’s yet to learn whether the club wants him back. Given the way he pitched for Alex Cora down the stretch that doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Eovaldi made 12 appearances for the Red Sox after coming over from Tampa Bay, and he posted an impressive ERA of just 3.33. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Boston might not be in the World Series currently without his excellent pitching down the stretch.
In fairness to the organization, they may be waiting to see how Eovaldi performs during the World Series before they really zero in on making him a specific offer. The last thing they want to do is commit big money to a pitcher who can’t help them when the pressure is at its zenith.
That could backfire on the Red Sox though. If Eovaldi stands out as an ace quality pitcher during the World Series, he’s going to get really expensive in free agency. The depth of available pitching this offseason is pretty weak. It’s not inconceivable to think that Eovaldi might end up being the second-best hurler on the open market after Patrick Corbin.
In the end, expect the Red Sox front office to move swiftly to try to tie Eovaldi down once their season is complete. If they let him twist in free agency, he’s going to get a ton of big offers from other clubs. Boston can’t afford to let that happen. Locking Eovaldi down for a decent price should be one of the team’s top priorities over the next several weeks.