10:15pm: While there’s no deal between the two sides just yet, a reunion is indeed becoming “increasingly likely,” per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link).
5:41pm: Talks between the Red Sox and free-agent righty Nathan Eovaldi are “intensifying,” Robert Murray of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). Fancred’s Jon Heyman suggests that talks could reach as high as four years and an annual value close to $17MM (Twitter link). The Red Sox are one of many teams who’ve been prominently linked to the right-hander, who starred for them following a midseason trade from the Rays.
Eovaldi, 29 in February, has also been tied to the Astros and Yankees in recent days, returned from Tommy John surgery in 2018 and delivered 111 regular-season innings of 3.81 ERA ball with 8.2 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. The flamethrowing righty was particularly impressive with the Red Sox, for whom he pitched to a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings to close out the season before dazzling with a 1.61 ERA in 22 1/3 postseason frames. Eovaldi worked both as a starter and a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever in October, regularly pumping triple-digit fastballs as he became one of manager Alex Cora’s most trusted playoff weapons.
For the Red Sox, he’d presumably slot into the rotation behind Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello, though some clubs have reportedly showed interest in utilizing Eovaldi in a high-leverage relief role. Given Boston’s uncertainty beyond the top three in the rotation — Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright and Brian Johnson are among the options for the final two spots — it seems logical to expect that Eovaldi’s high-octane arm would serve to deepen the starting staff.
Beyond the three aforementioned clubs, Eovaldi has also reportedly drawn interest from the likes of the Padres, Brewers, Braves, Angels, Phillies, White Sox, Blue Jays and Giants.
why bother even having winter meetings, this is ridiculous lol
What do you mean? Winter meetings are for GM’s and owners to discuss the state of their franchises not to make trades although trades do happen during the winter meetings but that is not what the meetings are for!
Thanks, Captain Fun!
Ya’ll are obsessed
And collude
That’s what GM meetings in November are for, not the winter meetings genius.
How can you not understand what I mean? Previous Novembers usually 1-2 major moves in the entire month, we’re getting those per day at this point, and all before the place where traditionally, offseason trades and FA signings have been discussed, as all GMs will be within arms reach and start to work out better quality deals, rather than one GM dueling the other before everyone else has had time to think about it.
Last winter we have people complain because no action all winter this winter to much? I like this way more
I don’t think anyone was complaining about too much action. They were simply pointing out the fact that this year has been much busier than last at this point.
It seemed like complaining. We all knew this off-season was going to be like this with all of the large market teams “resetting” their luxury tax situation and not one of them have made a huge financial add to their payroll. Plus the top two players and in my opinion the best pitcher free agents still out there. Realistically it hasn’t really begun.
Son, is that you?
Congratulations Xab. Your the son of new but “proud” step-dad.
Dewey,
When someone takes the time to change their ID to include your ID, you own that empty melon…… lol
Agreed.
Correct but they do lay the groundwork for future deals. Big topic of discussion which could be adopted is moving the trade line from July 31 to August 15 & eliminating the Aug 31 waiver deadline. More teams would be able to determine if they are in the race or out.
Now the issue is what happens after this year with Sale and does this stop or hinder them in the ability to sign Sale and Mookie
I hope the Sox sign him
This offseason is so much better than last year.
LOTS more movement.
A four year deal with $17 million AAV is utterly ridiculous. No way I’d want the Yankees anywhere near that. The Red Sox may have him, this would be a complete overpay
Queue the Yankees fans with “He’s just another Sonny Gray anyways.”
quite accurate
Well, unlike Gray this guy executes.
He kinda was for the Yankees lol
That’s because the Yankees didn’t know how to use him. Not unlike Grey. When they leave they flourish because the Yankees, foolishly, are very rigid with their pitching philosophies… but don’t necessarily acquit pitchers who fit those philosophies.
They drastically try and limit their pitching style that made them successful elsewhere. The Yankees are becoming small market minded. The Stanton trade proves only stupidity, small market teams have those one or two ridiculous contracts. The Dodgers were smart to stay away from Stanton, and the Cards, Giants dodged a bullet.
That’s actually not true, Sonny actually threw near the same percentage of fb compared to Oakland if you look at the pitch percentages. There was even an article about this a while back, he just was not locating.
Im sure you don’t know, but Eovaldi was already a Yankee before the Red Sox.. And guess what?? He wasn’t that good for them
You new to the internet?
Boom!!
Keep telling yourselves that in the Bronx.
Good. Boston is the team he deserves and he should enjoy the fruits of that amazing post season performance.
“Now the issue is what happens after this year with Sale and does this stop or hinder them in the ability to sign Sale and Mookie”
With that team, I’d say ‘Who cares about the future?’ You go for it now and you are all in for another World Series title and you sign Eovaldi. How large of a window do most contenders have? It’s not like worrying IF Mookie or Sale are on your team years from now will really matter. How was locking up an icon like Pedoria working for the Red Sox in 2019?
Agreed. They’ve shown the ability to retool rather quickly to compete over the past 15 years and its only $$ to one of the richest teams in sports. As a fan I’d rather see them pay a ridiculous amount of luxury tax now than stress over impending FA.
It’s certainly good to be Nathan Eovaldi right now.
I dont think his worth 15 or 17 mil, maybe 12 per year.
Not that I mind having Rick Porcello on the mound, but have a hard time understand what that article means by:
“Given Boston’s uncertainty beyond the top three in the rotation”
Eduardo Rodriquez was/is good enough to be a #3 (at worst) on better than half the teams in the league.
100%
Never topping 140 innings pitched probably wouldn’t qualify him to be considered a #3 on any team which has been his hallmark for the last couple of years.
A #3, guy has to take the ball more than less and that would tend to eliminate him.
earlier in his carer there was an issue with his knee becoming dislocated that off season surgery winter of 2017 fixed for good and if getting spiked by a baserunner last reason is cause.. Wow..
Let’s look at ur team Rocky after Severino and compare him.. Sabathia, Tanaka and who else?
Rodriquez would slot in nice as a mid 90’s throwing lefty after Severino wouldn’t he?
Not if he could only pitch every 2nd or 3rd turn on the average he wouldnt.
Nothing special about this guy Silver, why do you insist this guy is the second coming of Nolan Ryan?
And I’d still take Tanaka as my 2 over him everyday!
JohnS, I agree.. ERod just needs to find a way not to fall behind hitters. Challenge them early in the count. Pitch ahead. So many young pitchers take time to figure it out, if they do at all.
I hope the Sox sign him, complete overpay
It will suck for you, yet again, if he signs a team friendly deal eh? Get a helmet.
17 million a year doesn’t sound like a very team friendly deal, son.
Well, einstein, at the time of your stupid FIRST comment, there was zero mention of figures.
But thats not the point. Its going to suck for you, son, when he signs a nice deal and keeps the R Sox yet again ahead of your team. Get a helmet.
Helmet head what he is saying is that Eovaldi will sign with the Sox because nobody else will pay him that much unless you already knew that and you wanted to just argue the fact… Eovaldi doesn’t mean your ahead it means you have a 4th pitcher that can compete and just because you sign him this early doesn’t mean the offseason is over and you guys are anything but not needing SP, sometimes fear of another team will make you pay attention to them instead of yourselves!
Yank, Eovaldi is the 5th starter for Boston.
You are exactly right . When a team signs a free agent player, no other team wants to pay him that much. Players take the most money. High bid wins.
Its why Tanaka and CC ended up in NY
Nobody signs a team friendly deal…nobody…they all take the years and dollars!
Boston isn’t getting any bargains buddy!
Hmm, maybe you mean nobody signs a team friendly deal with the Yankees? Hmm. Maybe you are correct. But then there is those strange facts around Aj Burnett, Ivan Nova and the Pirates…..hmm.
No, i meant exactly what i said, there is nothing different about the Yankees than any other team when negotiating with a player.
What the heck did you mean?
I agree and Im a Sox fan. He could really go either way. He was huge for us but that was less than half a season. That dhould not equate to 4/68. It’ll really hurt next winter especially if he doesnt equate to a good Rick Porcello like starter and be his replacement.
And what do you think is overpay when you acquired a total muscle bound Stanton, who does scare many pitching staffed. Anyone can hit homers when they don’t count.
I think eovaldi is a late bloomer and the Sox may have struck gold with him. Lock him up and let sale walk after next season. This guy could very well be as good a closer as Kimbrel for less years and money if they decide to use him in that role.
Best case Rich hill, Worst case Matt Clement. It’s would be a risk but I imagine their will be a hefty amount of insurance and an injury provision like Lacky.
Matt clement took a line drive to the head and couldn’t shake the nerves afterwards. That’s a totally different scenario.
I meant in context to the contracts not injury history. Injuries like Clements are undepredicable but his contract wasn’t a burden when it didn’t pan out, hills contract with dodgers has its share of risk but has diffently been worth it.
Let’s be honest, Cashman may have hurt his reputation with FA pitchers with the way he handled Gray’s struggles. It’s super unprofessional for a GM to come out and trash a player to the media.
Let’s also differentiate between being “honest” and being accurate.
Bingo.
That and the way they trashed Betances in the media doesn’t sit well with player either… and the fact they haven’t won anything in a decade.
Add that when the fans and media started the “Andujar has a clanky glove @ 3B so we need to lay out $30 mm a year for Machado” narrative, the Yankees FO left the 23 year-old – that was very probably their MVP in 2018 – dangling with no simple statement of support….such as “he’s young and we think he’ll improve”. If that’s not bad enough, the Owner says he wants to have a “sit down” with Machado to discuss his “hustle” comment. Sure. Machado says he won’t do it again, and they’ll give him $33 mm a year (ignore what one scout said that I saw as well – “Manny plays when he wants to”……NY’s baseball answer to Carmelo Anthony). Then today’s topper – Aaron Boone goes on a radio program and double-talks the hustle comment.
Earth to Andujar – the Yankees are not your friend. You’re going to the Indians with Estevan Florial and a pitching prospect for Kluber (adequate compensation based on what the Cardinals gave up for one year of Paul Goldschmidt).
Sure, the Red Sox rolled the table in 2018. But the Yankees could have instead. Put it on Cashman for not getting one decent major league starter in July as his vaulted pitching prospects we being sent back to AAA one after the other; as well as hiring a totally unqualified manager for a major league team…..whose MO was exactly what he did today with Machado – go to the media and make excuses for his players.
At some point all this money the Red Sox and Yankees are committing to is going to eat them up.
I would be happy to see the Red Sox sign Eovaldi and then see what happens after that. That will put Boston’s opening payroll around 240 million don’t see them going much beyond that. They will probably go with in house on relievers if they sign Eovaldi.
Bruin, Boston has a one year window. They can exceed the high cap of 246M or watch that window end in failure to repeat.
IMO, JH goes for it.
2010 will be a challenge.
2010 was a challenge
oops 2019
Wrong! We are rid of salaries of Hanley Ramirez, Pomeranz, Kimbrel, Kelly,
Carson Smith,And Pearce&Eovaldi from past year That’s $55million off the payroll so down to $180 million Eovaldi $17 mil Mookie another $10 mil Pearce $6 mil Bogey $3 mil adds $36 mil so payroll at $216 million room for more as next tax penalty is $246 Worry about why the Yankees have gone cheap
You are so far off on your Salary Arbitration numbers it’s not even funny.
Mike, Sox are at 205M without Eovaldi.
They need to leave room for incentives and trade deadline pickups. Eovaldi and a closer could cost 30-32M. They are going over the cap again, Chisel it.
According to Cots with Salary arb, benefits all that stuff if they add Eovaldi at 17 million they will be just north of 240 million. Now maybe they will go past the 246 and don’t care but they will be at 240 million or so if they sign Eovaldi. It might be a shade less but not much. Maybe the plan is blow buy the second tier again this year but my guess is they will go with in house options out of the pen and then reassess around the trade deadline what they want to do.
Bruin, I see that. I use Roster Resource. They break down the Arb projected salaries.. With benefits they are at 205M.
They give Mookie 18.7M Cots doesn’t break it down. I can’t find an error in either one.
Replace “dot” with a period, add www and you are there. its a good site. Tell me what you think
rosterresourceDOTcom/mlb-boston-red-sox-info/
So does Cots they have Mookie at 19.5 million I will look at Roster Resource though and see why the difference.
The Red Sox will pay to keep this dynasty together.
@ lovethatdirtyH20 they both look the same Cots looks like it has Rusney’s contract and it looks like a Cots has more money going out for arbitration. No way Rusney sees the light of day so I’m guessing they are somewhere around 210 million now 226 million.
…We resigned Pearce for exactly what he was earning last year.
So all the guys that said 4/64 were right.
Is that what schools now are teaching 4 x 17 equals? If so.. I believe it..
John, schools are teaching now whatever the answer that makes feel good is the correct answer.
Thank god!!! Hes one guy i wanted the Yankees to stay as far away as possible.. Because he had a good postseason, people are acting like he’s a superstar now… He wasn’t very good with the Yankees and he wasn’t even that good with the Rays last year.
It’s almost good if your team gets none of the starting pitching options this year imo. It’s saying something when Corbin, Eovaldi, and Happ round out the top 3. Happ is probably the only one I’d be comfortable dealing with since he’ll more than likely max out at 3 years.
Phillies are probably gonna overpay for Happ
but he was quite good when it counted, and he dominated the Yankees.
LOLOLOLOL!!!!! It never gets old seeing spurned Yankee fans complain about other teams payrolls!
Only when they top the entire league like the Red Sox!
Rocky who actually cares about payroll when you win?
Well,when you go to watch the Sox, next year and drop a couple hundred for 2 tickets, and $50 for 2 dogs and a beer, you tell me.
I still wouldn’t sleep on the Astros here. If Houston steps up and is competitive with any offer Eovaldi figures to sign with the team where he was born, raised and still calls home. It’s not like the Astros don’t have some holes to fill in their rotation this offseason. Why not sign a native son with a high octane arm and some postseason success to fill one of those spots?
Mr Mac, Some players like playing near family and friends, some don’t care and some prefer not to.
Houston is a possibility. Good luck to the Stros if they sign Eovaldi
True enough. However this is Eovaldi’s first chance at traditional free agency. He did become a FA two off-season’s ago after the Yankees released him following his second TJ surgery. He eventually signed a two year deal for $2MM with an equal team option for 2018 later that winter with Tampa knowing he wouldn’t pitch in 2017. The Rays exercised that option last offseason. Eovaldi performed well enough in Tampa this past season that Boston traded for him near the summer deadline and the rest is history.
LDTH..very classy, excellent form..
Astros aren’t going to come close to $64MM commitment. I don’t think they would go 4 years either. I think the Red Sox are over paying. Surprised he’s getting $17MM AAV.
A $17MM AAV is not a lot of money these days for a starting pitcher who flashed the numbers Eovaldi did in 2018, especially since he won’t turn 29 until February. He also doesn’t have a whole lot of mileage on his arm either, probably more scars due to the two prior TJ surgeries. I think he’d be worth the gamble not only as a starter but also as a potential closer with his stuff and improving command.
I actually wouldn’t mind if the White Sox “overpaid” for such an arm this offseason. They could easily afford that AAV along with a 4 year commitment and not be financially crippled if he were to get hurt again. Long term, Eovaldi would be yet another power arm added to a mix of many who should fill the White Sox pitching staff in the years to come. Short term, he could be a #1 or #2 along with Carlos Rodon to begin the season. With Reynaldo Lopez, the trio could give the White Sox some hope and promise atop their rotation to start the year, one that could become even more intriguing once Dylan Cease makes his anticipated debut later next summer. The return of Michael Kopeck from his own TJ surgery in 2020 along with the debut of another near MLB ready arm like Dane Dunning could give the White Sox a formidable rotation with some depth very quickly.
I hope they sign him but I also hope they agree to a clause for injuries going forward.
as a yankee fan thank God
we had him and let him leave would be silly to bring him back with his history.
The Evil Empire tossed him away, I do hope players remember that.
Thanks for the title
The playoffs earned him what? 30 mill? Good for him.
$17M per for 4 years? That is contract the Sox will regret. They are lucky they spend more money than every other team in baseball, and can just write off mistakes. It’s funny how when the beloved “dirt dawg” Redsox win the World Series by blowing other teams away with payroll and spending the most money in the game no one mentions it. Suddenly payroll inequality is not a problem. I’m not picking on them for spending money either. If you got it, spend it. Kudos to them for being willing to throw good money after bad in an effort to win. I just think the double standard is laughable. And I’m from Boston. No one here mentions payroll now that the Sox are the top spender. They used to before tho.
Last year was the first year that they had the highest payroll in baseball.
They always have a high payroll but last year was the first they had the highest and one the World Series. There other three World Series they didn’t have the high in payroll. It’s laughable when Yankee and Dodger fans talk about the high payroll about anyone.
If you are a fan of one of the smaller market teams like Tampa then talk about it all you want but remember it’s also laughable for an owner in baseball to not at least have a 120 million for payroll. I think a minimum is much more needed in baseball then a maximum. If you can’t afford a 120 million payroll you shouldn’t be an owner end of story.
Dick…. Nobody here mentions payroll? LOL you just did.
As have many others.
Keep spending Boston. Keep hugging your accountants Hal. I must have died and gone to heaven.
“keep hugging your accountants Hal” Now what organization does that sound like?
That is not much money nowadays.
Facts bro
It is somehow an oxymoron for people to complain about too much trading early and then saying Boston or NY is being cautious and cheap. Every team makes decisions that don’t work out. I would love to see Nate back and see him be the next Andrew Miller but I am better running my boat then trying to be DD or Cashman
I love the back and forth Sox/Yanks rivalry, but discounting any salaries, can we agree that Stanton is one of the most overrated players in the game today?
Not a chance. Stanton has 305 career home runs at age 28. Also last year, he hit .266 with 38HR and 100 RBI. People blasted him for those stats but I’m pretty sure any team in the bigs would want that kind of production.
Harper is more overrated then Stanton. Harper had one season with 100 RBI and that was last year.
Awesome contract and deserves it
That is too bad. Would like to see him with team located in an area that’s let’s say not so racist.
What area do you recommend David?
For Starters: wbur.org/seasonticket/2017/12/14/racism-boston-spo…
Look into your history… not making this up.
There are racist people in many areas of the world, unfortunately.
That said, I don’t think this article is the appropriate forum for this discussion.
Racists are everywhere. Don’t blame Boston.
Retaining Eovaldi for the Red Sox is a “no brainer”.
Hope they get it done.
I am 66 an this is the best Red Sox team I have ever seen.
Dombrowski and Henry will keep this dynasty together.
Hope they can also keep Kimbrel and Kelly.
The money situation luxury tax eases after 2019.
So the Red Sox can keep this great team together.
It’s just a matter of money.
“Just a matter of money” a classic comment from a moron who’s money isnt being spent. Nice work, jag.
A classic response from a moron which says it all in your name.
“3rdStrikeLooking”.
You probably don’t want to swing so you won’t crack your bat and save money?
That’s a pretty solid rotation if he signs. If ERod can graduate to his next level (and stay healthy), they’ll be set.
I’d like to see them get in the mix on Britton for cheap. His price has dropped and could be a lotto ticket if he’s fully recovered. Closer will be tough to fill. Barnes/Brasier are solid 6-8, but I’m gonna miss having Kimbrel.
Red Sox fans crack me up. All you guys ever talked about is the big bad Yankees spending money and buying all their players. Red Sox have home grown talent. Now you throw a couple of bucks around and win a World Series NOW it’s ok to spend. What a freaking’ joke
Yeah, they do throw a couple bucks around don’t they? Its freakin awesome!
Like I said to Rocky above..who cares what a team spends when they win. The Sox complaining about the Yankees spending was over a decade ago by the way. Like a guy wrote on River Avenue Blues..wake me up and let me know when the Yankees return to being the Yankees!
You and any other Yankees fans applauding the Yankees not spending their money is hilarious. You’re the highest revenue generating team in all of baseball. Let’s stop talking about payroll. The Yankees are laughing to the bank and the fans are accepting it.
Please say some, if not a few of the fans are accepting it. No one I know who’s a Yankee fan is happy in the direction they’ve taken in the last couple of years. Cashman has been lauded about how great a job he’s done during that time, and so many only se a so so job. These are the “NY YANKEES Jerry, the NY YANKEES” and shouldn’t be ran like a mid-market team.
Cereal, dead on. My Yankee fan friends are not happy about NY’s sudden change of spending habits the last few years and this one. They reset the tax and the fans want them to spend.
I fear Harper news any day now. Its all I have to explain this away.
Did you get who I was referencing? The justification by some for the Stanton trade is ridiculous, but it’s after the fact of course. If they would have road out last year setting the luxury tax even more without that albatross contract they’d be the Yankees inking both Harper and Machado, something they were expected to be doing by the way. Yet here we are today and Cashman has totally depleted the farm on trades for injury prone players, and watches someone that truly wanted to be aYankee take his talents to DC..over some money that didn’t need to be a stalemate. With all Cashman great moves he still scrimped and resigned Gardner, and Sebathia.
I’m w you all the way except that NY still has a pretty loaded farm system. They have enough pieces to bring back a Bumgarner/Kluber for sure.
The key is to find the right mix of homegrown/trades/FA on your roster and that will keep the payroll from going crazy, at least in thee interim. Boston had the perfect formula and will again this year, but its gonna get expensive in 2020. We’ll have to see how DD can maneuver through Mookie and X hitting FA. Plus I dont see them going after Porcello or Sale. This is where not having prospects can cripple a team for a year or two. They need a couple good drafts this year and next.
I haven’t seen anyone suggesting that the Sox are signing Eovoldi to be their closer….but I’d bet that’s the case…..
I agree w this. He could either be a closer only or (even better) he could be a swingman like A Miller was a couple years back. Mix in the occasional start here and there. Such a valuable piece w that kind of flexibility.
They need more in the bullpen though.
He’ll get hurt. Would love to see the Red Sox get saddled with some significant dead money. Then again, maybe Big Fatty will share his roids.
don’t be shocked the sox win more games next year
If he gives a production close to the 4 years of Porcello not one is going to complains and the ceiling is so much higher
I know it’s not going to happen, but I feel like he could be a late inning stopper, maybe that would counter some of the injury concerns? Closer material?
If it really is 4 years $70M, the Sox can have him. That contract will be almost impossible to move. The Yankees shouldn’t be tying up a rotation spot for four years with a guy who had a 4.50 ERA while pitching in the Bronx.
And there’s no indication that he’s gotten better. His 2018 numbers aren’t impressive. The ERA is good (under 3.50, when you count the post season), but 133 innings is a small sample size.
His SOs are around where they were before (he’s not a strikeout pitcher), his BABIP is .270, which is significantly lower than his .307 career BABIP. When a player’s hard and medium hit percentage are unchanged (which they are), there’s only one explanation left for a lower BABIP: luck. (no, it’s not the shift, Yankees were shifting back when they had him)
Eovaldi isn’t terrible, but he’s what his career numbers say he is: a 107 ERA- pitcher (which, at Fenway, translates to about a 4.80 ERA). So if they wanna pay $70M for that, go ahead.
I’m with ya. I have NO IDEA what people are seeing in him. He’s always been an average pitcher and was last season too. Christ if this how we value average pitchers, Marlins should trade Dan Straily right now for a giant haul. I wouldnt give Eovaldi more than 2 years and $20 million.
Relax buddy. Everybody is on to the Red Sox and their little pine tar tricks
Is that you Michael Pineda?
How did you guess it was me?
Hope the Red Sox keep Kimbrel and Kelly as well.
2019 Payroll $236,976,429
2020 Payroll $109.346
2021 Payroll $86.750
I think the Red Sox will pay big in 2019 to keep this team together.
Kimbrel is a class act.
And as you can see from the numbers above the payroll gets lower after 2019.
Therefore they will have room to add the young players that don’t come due until 2020 and beyond.
Whatever the outcome I know Dombrowski and his team will always put a good team on the field.
Still need a closer and set up man, so add 25 million to 2019