The Boston Red Sox will have a change at closer soon. This move shows how desperate their bullpen situation has become.
The bullpen has been an ongoing issue for the Boston Red Sox this season. After failing to bring back Joe Kelly and closer Craig Kimbrel, the Red Sox have patched their relief corps together. In particular, the closer role has been in flux all season, with Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, and Brandon Workman each recording at least three saves this year.
Let’s add a fourth pitcher to that mix. According to reports, the Red Sox are planning on using Nathan Eovaldi as their closer once he returns from the Injured List.
According to sources, the Red Sox plan on using Nathan Eovaldi as their closer when he returns from the Injured List. https://t.co/cxrS0ZErV0
— Tom Caron (blue checkmark redacted) (@TomCaron) July 2, 2019
In theory, this move makes sense. Eovaldi is known for his upper 90s fastball, which could play up even more in a traditional closer role, as he will be utilized going forward. Yet, this is a move fraught with risk, especially as Eovaldi has had two Tommy Joh surgeries already in his career, and is currently on the disabled list after elbow surgery.
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Just the fact that the Red Sox considered such a move, let alone plan on implementing it, shows the level of desperation they have in the bullpen. Their refusal to address the relief corps with more than minor league contracts due to luxury tax concerns has come back to bite the Red Sox.
Heading into Wednesday’s action, Boston found themselves with a 44-40 record, 11games back in the AL East and two games out of a Wild Card berth. The season is far from over, but the Red Sox imploding bullpen could cause the defending World Series champions to miss the postseason.
Over the weekend, the Red Sox admitted that their bullpen concept was not working, and began to look towards improving their bullpen. The problem is, the Red Sox have no intentions of going beyond the luxury tax, making any major tweaks highly unlikely. And so, it turns to Nathan Eovaldi, who the Red Sox retained with a four year deal worth $68 million, to stabilize the bullpen.
Maybe, instead of being caught up in what Nathan Eovaldi had done in the World Series, the Boston Red Sox could have spent that money to improve their bullpen. Now, the move to make Eovaldi the closer shows how desperate they have become to find a viable option in the back of the bullpen.