After what seemed like weeks of big-name players going exclusively to the NL East, we have finally seen some action outside that division. It is permitted, apparently.
Today, it’s righty Nathan Eovaldi re-upping with the Red Sox, who acquired him from the Rays last season after he’d demonstrated he was healthy following a second Tommy John surgery. And he’s getting PAID:
Free-agent RHP Nathan Eovaldi in agreement with #RedSox, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2018
New: RHP Nathan Eovaldi and the Red Sox have reached an agreement to keep him in Boston, pending a physical, a major league confirmed to @alexspeier.https://t.co/RFkQ7RNxKw pic.twitter.com/SNWBCcUgfG
— Boston Globe Sports (@BGlobeSports) December 6, 2018
According to a source, Eovaldi’s deal is four years and $67.5 million.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 6, 2018
Eovaldi was very good last year, especially in the postseason, and he’s just 29, but good gravy! If he actually gets a deal at that level, it’s going to blow out of the water the contract the Cubs gave to Tyler Chatwood last year (and the parallels in their stories are many). Do I think Eovaldi looks like a better bet now than Chatwood did last year? For sure. But does he come with a ton of risks? Yup. If he gets another year AND $4M more in AAV … clearly, the Red Sox dug in while they had him and felt like he was a very good bet to stay healthy and productive.
Oh, also: after this signing goes through, the Red Sox’s projected payroll for 2019 will look likely to top the highest luxury tax threshold. Just sayin’.