Eovaldi, Red Sox agree to four years and $67.5 million
The Boston Red Sox brought back their World Series MVP a few weeks ago, but the most valuable retention of their off-season unfolded Thursday.
Nathan Eovaldi was the guy Boston could not afford to lose, and the American League baseball club acted quickly to ensure his 100-m.p.h. fastball isn’t going anywhere.
Eovaldi and the Red Sox reached agreement on a new contract, The Athletic reported. Terms were not available, though MLB.com reported that the deal was for four years and $67.5 million.
And, in locking up Eovaldi, the Red Sox protected themselves against some significant churn in their pitching staff.
Staff ace Chris Sale and 2016 Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello are free agents after ’19. Closer Craig Kimbrel and setup man Joe Kelly are already on the market this year.
That’s a lot of firepower to potentially kiss off over two winters. So in a world where velocity wins, bringing Eovaldi back was crucial.
He showed just how valuable he could be down the stretch and in the post-season, serving as a starter, a late-innings fireman and, in an epic Game 3 of the World Series, a staff-saving immovable force.
Eovaldi held the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless over six innings in relief, simultaneously keeping the Red Sox in the game while taxing their opponent’s bullpen. He eventually gave up an 18th-inning home run.