Nathan Eovaldi watches Max Muncy’s 18th-inning, walk-off home run in Game 3, the longest in World Series history. Eovaldi threw 97 pitches over six innings of relief, just two days after pitching the eighth inning for a second consecutive day.
The Red Sox' 2019 rotation currently consists of lefty Chris Sale, lefty David Price, righty Rick Porcello, lefty Eduardo Rodriguez and possibly knuckleballer Steven Wright.
Lefty Brian Johnson and righty Hector Velazquez are both depth options, but neither is viewed as an every-fifth-day, No. 5 starter.
Expect Boston to be active in the pursuit of righty free agent Nathan Eovaldi, who raised his status -- and price tag -- in the playoffs, particularly the Fall Classic.
At just 28 years of age, Eovaldi (who will be 29 when spring training opens) is one of the most attractive free agents on this winter's market. In fact, he is the youngest available starting pitching option, about six months younger than fellow free agent starter Patrick Corbin.
Additionally, Eovaldi has thrown more than 4,000 fewer pitches than fellow free agent Dallas Keuchel.
Eovaldi proved to be a fearless competitor on baseball's biggest stage, while also showing that he can thrive under the heat of the brightest spotlight.
In the 2018 postseason, the righty compiled a remarkable 1.61 ERA in six appearances. Over 22 1/3 innings, Eovaldi allowed only four earned runs, while fanning 16, walking just three and holding opponents to a paltry .185 batting average.
Yes, there is some risk involved. Eovaldi has endured two Tommy John surgeries and at this time a year ago, he was still recovering from No. 2.
However, Sale and Porcello will both be free agents after the 2019 season, so the Red Sox may prefer to get a free agent starter under a multi-year contract this offseason in the event that they lose one or both next year.
Eovaldi may well be their guy.
As to whether he'd like to return to Boston, Eovaldi made his feelings crystal clear this week.
“I enjoyed my time over there a lot,” Eovaldi said on MLB Network Radio. “When I got traded over there, they made me feel right at home, right away. And then doing everything I did in the postseason, the fans they’ve just showed me so much amount of love and support, it’s definitely going to be hard to leave there if it doesn’t work out.”
Bring him back, Red Sox.
