Red Sox acquire Eovaldi for postseason run
The Boston Red Sox enhanced their thin starting rotation for a playoff run, obtaining right-hander Nathan Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for minor league lefthander Jalen Beeks.
Eovaldi had been scheduled to start the Rays’ game against the New York Yankees 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 might 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.”
Eovaldi returned this season following Tommy John surgery in August 2016. He is 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 10 starts after starting the 2018 season on the disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his elbow.
Yankees
New York Yankees 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 the Yankees lost, 3-2, Wenesday 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.”
The Yankees acquired Britton from the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles for three prospects late Tuesday, a trade expected to bolster New York’s bullpen.
Chapman left a July 7 outing against Toronto with left knee discomfort.
“He’s been dealing with the issue,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said during a conference call. “He’s been successful despite the issue and feels it’s a non-issue other than the fact that we just have to deal with it and it’s a maintenance thing. It didn’t factor into any acquisition.”
Mets
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will have surgery on both feet to relieve chronic pain in his heels and is likely to need at least eight to 10 months to recover.
The Mets announced Wednesday that an MRI exam and other tests on Cespedes showed bone calcifications in both heels. Cespedes was put on the disabled list Tuesday.