Boston Red Sox rumors: 3 ways re-signing Nathan Eovaldi impacts 2019 team

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly reached a four-year, $67.5 million deal with hot free agent starter Nathan Eovaldi.

The Boston Red Sox wanted to keep free agent pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in Boston and they have done exactly that.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand via Twitter Thursday, the team has reached a four-year, $67.5 M contract agreement with Eovaldi to keep him as a member of the World Series champions.

The hard-throwing, 28-year-old righty made a name for himself during the team’s playoff run with his heart and intensity.  Given the fact that Red Sox ace Chris Sale wasn’t 100 percent, Eovaldi’s performance as both a starter and bullpen arm was a major factor in the team winning their ninth World Series championship.

Due to his dominance against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, as well as his relief performance of Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Nathan Eovaldi quickly established himself as one of the highly sought after free agents this offseason.

Given his history with Tommy John surgery, a couple teams were reportedly reluctant to go after Eovaldi.  The Red Sox, however, got to witness firsthand what Eovaldi brings to the table.

Take away the strong postseason numbers, the righty pitched 54 innings for the Boston Red Sox since being obtained in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.  In those innings, he recorded a 3.33 ERA with 8.0 K per 9 innings.  While he did have a stretch in which he was inconsistent, it was his performance in the big games, particularly against the Yankees, that makes this re-signing a big one for Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi.

While Nathan Eovladi does provide depth in the starting rotation, here are three other ways his re-signing impacts the 2019 Boston Red Sox.