Red Sox, Yankees bolster staffs with trades
The Boston Red Sox have obtained right-handed starter Nathan Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays 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.
Eovaldi can become a free agent after this season.
The deal was announced less than 12 hours after Boston’s main AL East rival, the Yankees, obtained reliever Zach Britton from Baltimore.
Eovaldi returned this season following Tommy John surgery performed in August 2016, going 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 10 starts. He started 2018 on the disabled list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the elbow at the end of spring training.
Yankees: New York manager Aaron Boone said newly acquired reliever Zach Britton will fill a variety of roles at the back end of the Yankees bullpen but emphasized that Aroldis Chapman’s role remains the same.
“Chappy is our closer,” Boone said before Wednesday’s game at Tampa Bay. “I’m sure there will be opportunities on a day when maybe we need to stay away from Chappy or it’s three in a row for Chappy, those kind of things. Having so many quality guys, that allows us to really preserve and protect them.”
The Yankees acquired Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects late Tuesday, a trade expected to bolster New York’s bullpen for the stretch run.
Mets: Finally have some clarity about Yoenis Cespedes’ health. But now they may be without their oft-injured slugger well into the 2019 season.
New York announced that Cespedes would undergo a pair of surgeries to remove calcifications in both of his heels, an ailment that has bothered him dating back to his teenage years. The Mets hope that the outfielder can return in eight to 10 months, though the recovery may take longer.
Brewers: The injuryplagued rotation took another hit: Lefty Brent Suter will have Tommy John surgery, ending his season. Suter, 28, pitched a career-high 101⅓ innings this season, going 8-7 with a 4.80 ERA in 20 appearances, including 18 starts.