Boston Red Sox: 5 biggest disappointments of 2019 MLB season

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as Hanser Alberto #57 of the Baltimore Orioles scores a run during the eighth inning at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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Boston Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

4. Nathan Eovaldi, the $68 million disappointment

Another 2018 World Series hero disappointed in 2019.

Mainly due to injury and a lack of consistency, Nathan Eovaldi certainly didn’t live up to the new 4-year, $67.5 million deal signed prior to the 2019 MLB season.

A beneficiary of a strong post-season performance during the team’s 2018 World Series championship run, Eovaldi was expected to stabilize the middle of the starting rotation.

It didn’t quite work out that way as the hard-throwing righty underwent elbow surgery to remove loose bodies in late April. The procedure ended up landing the 29-year-old Eovaldi on the 60-day disabled list in June, which really crippled the starting rotation, especially with the struggles of Chris Sale during that period of time.

When he did return, he was up-and-down shifting between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He finished the season positing a 6.25 ERA in 31 1/3 innings pitched over eight starts.

Overall, he posted a 5.99 ERA in 67.2 innings pitched while posting a 2-1 record. To say the entire season was a disappointment for Nathan Eovaldi would be an understatement as the team ended the season with more question marks about their starting rotation moving forward into the 2020 season.

Eovaldi may be the biggest question.

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