Tampa Bay Rays: Finding Room for Nathan Eovaldi

The Tampa Bay Rays have a lot of depth in their starting rotation. Will they be able to find room for Nathan Eovaldi in 2018?

Heading into the 2018 campaign, the Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation appears to be an area of stability. Although Alex Cobb is set to depart in free agency, the Rays still have five starters from last season returning. Meanwhile, they have Nathan Eovaldi, who they signed this past offseason, ready to return.

Eovaldi was coming off Tommy John surgery when he inked his contract with the Rays, a signing designed for the 2018 campaign. There was every probability that Cobb would move on, opening a spot in the rotation. And, as Jake Odorizzi continues to get more expensive as he progresses through arbitration, he is likely to get traded. With two spots possibly open, in theory, Eovaldi was a signing that could help bridge the gap.

Instead, even if Odorizzi is traded, there may only be one spot available in Spring Training. Matt Andriese was a decent fifth starter last season, posting a 4.50 ERA and a 1.372 WHiP, striking out 76 batters against 28 walks in his 86 innings. The Rays also have top prospect Brent Honeywell on the cusp of the majors. Honeywell posted a 13-9 record, along with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.237 WHiP across two levels last season. In his 136.2 innings, he struck out 172 batters while issuing only 35 walks. Honeywell certainly looks ready for the majors.

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There are ways to include Eovaldi in the rotation next year. Honeywell could be kept in the minors for a couple of weeks, as the Rays push back his service clock. Or, depending on how he performs during Spring Training, Andriese could slide back into his role as a long reliever/spot starter.

One also has to wonder what, exactly, Eovaldi will be able to give the Rays in 2018. His career has been marked with inconsistency, as Eovaldi has never had the performance to match his stuff. With his fastball that can tough 100 MPH, and solid cutter and splitter, he has the arsenal to look like a potential ace. Yet, he has a 38-46 record, along with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.382 WHiP. That impressive velocity has yet to manifest itself in strikeouts either, as Eovaldi has struck out only 539 batters in his 739 career innings.

Then there are the questions of what type of pitcher Eovaldi will be once he returns to the mound. That first year back from Tommy John surgery is typically rough, as Eovaldi may not have his arsenal entirely at his disposal. Yet, he may well be their option for the fifth starter, depending on the various moves made this offseason.

Next: Colome to the Cardinals?

The Tampa Bay Rays will get Nathan Eovaldi back for 2018. Now they just need to find a spot for him.