Boston Red Sox rumors: Long-term attempt to keep Nathan Eovaldi?
By Kevin Henry
The Boston Red Sox have already extended a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi this offseason. Now it’s rumored that the Red Sox are doing even more to make sure the 32-year-old right-hander keeps calling Fenway Park home.
Boston Red Sox rumors: A multi-year contract in the works for Nathan Eovaldi?
According to a tweet from WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the Boston Red Sox have made a multi-year offer to Eovaldi in an effort to keep him with the organization that he has called home for the past five seasons. During that stretch, Eovaldi is 26-18 with a 4.05 ERA/3.73 FIP/1.269 WHIP in 461.2 innings.
No terms of the contract were dished out in the rumor, but it’s clear the Red Sox are hoping to keep Eovaldi, who finished fourth in the American League Cy Young balloting back in 2021 while also earning his first All-Star Game appearance.
After offering Eovaldi a one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer, Boston will likely be increasing that amount in terms of money and length through this reported new contract offer. It’s an interesting gamble for the Red Sox, who saw Eovaldi make just five starts after August began last season. Eovaldi spent time on the injured list last season with back and shoulder issues.
Boston acquiring solid starting pitching is among the long to-do list for the Red Sox this offseason, and Eovaldi’s return could certainly be a good start on that quest.
This offseason, the Red Sox already had Chris Sale commit to making his return for 2023, deciding to not opt out of the final two years of his contract. If Boston can not only bring back Sale and Eovaldi but also see them have healthy seasons in 2023, it could be a step in the right direction for a Red Sox team that finished in fifth place in the AL East last season with a 78-84 mark.
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In late September last season, after returning to the mound from shoulder inflammation, Eovaldi told reporters, “I’ve loved every minute of being over here and putting on the uniform and hopefully there’s more to come.” With this contract offer, the Red Sox are hoping there is plenty more to come for Eovaldi in Boston.