Red Sox acquire Eovaldi
Rays starter 3-4 with 4.26 ERA in 10 starts
BALTIMORE — The Boston Red Sox enhanced their thin starting rotation for a playoff run, obtaining righthander Nathan Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for minor league lefty Jalen Beeks.
Eovaldi had been scheduled to start the Rays’ game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday but was scratched about two hours before game time.
“I assumed there was a possibility, of course, especially where I am in my career and the way my contract was for this year,” Eovaldi said before leaving Tropicana Field. “I was assuming that I would be traded, but as for what team it would be, I wasn’t thinking about that at all.”
Eovaldi can become a free agent after this season.
It didn’t matter to the Red Sox that Eovaldi may not be part of the team beyond 2018. He throws hard and can fill out a rotation that features Chris Sale, Rick Porcello and David Price.
“He’s been pitching very well,” Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “We’ve had some starting pitching injuries. He gives us depth in that regard. He’ll start in the rotation for us at this time. He’s also a guy that can slip into the bullpen if that ends up happening later on in the year.”
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is sidelined with a right ankle sprain, and Drew Pomeranz (1-4, 6.91 ERA) is still trying to bounce back from a biceps strain that kept him on the disabled list for two months before his return on Tuesday night.
The deal was announced less than 12 hours after Boston’s main