Eovaldi wanted to remain in Red Sox rotation, not relieve
LASVEGAS(AP) >> Nathan Eovaldi loved what he started in Boston — emphasis on started.
“There were a lot of teams that reached out, wanted me to be a closer,” he said. “I view myself as a starter, and that’s something I’ve always done my entire career. And I enjoy doing that. So if I had that choice, I still wanted to be a starter.”
After shifting to the bullpen for three World Series relief appearances, including an epic 97-pitch outing in an 18-inning loss , Eovaldi decided last week to stay with the Red Sox for a $68 million, four-year contract .
“I can’t wait to see him again with us. He’s going to be a huge part of this rotation,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday during a winter meetings news conference. “He’s a workaholic.”
Eovaldi averaged nearly
98 mph with his fastball during the regular season but reached 100 mph six times in the first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, not needing to hold back. That velocity intrigued teams as he became a free agent.
Before October, Eovaldi’s career was most notable for a pair of Tommy John surgeries. Acquired fromTampaBay in July , the 28-year-old righthander beat the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the Division Series, then defeated Houston in the third game
of the League Championship Series and got four outs as a bridge to closer CraigKimbrel in the Game 5 finale.
Transformed to a setup man, Eovaldi twice pitched perfect eighth innings as Boston took a 2-0 World Series lead against the Dodgers.
He entered Game 3 at the start of the 12th inning, Boston’s ninth pitcher of the game. Ace Chris Sale and DrewPomeranz were the only remaining arms available.
Eovaldi kept going, allowing Yasiel Puig’s tying single in the 13th and Max Muncy’s leading home run in the 18th, which gave the Dodgers a 3-2 win.