Aug. 22: Chris Cotillo of MassLive tweets that Eovaldi will likely be placed on the 15-day injured list in order to make room on the roster for Josh Winckowski, who is taking the ball in Eovaldi’s place for tomorrow’s game.
Aug. 21: The Red Sox skipped Nathan Eovaldi’s last turn through the rotation since the right-hander was dealing with soreness in his neck and shoulder. The issue is still bothering Eovaldi, and manager Alex Cora told MLB.com’s Ian Browne (Twitter links) and other reporters that Eovaldi won’t make his next start, scheduled for Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Another trip to the injured list hasn’t been ruled out, though Cora said the Sox haven’t yet decided how to proceed.
For Eovaldi, he said that staying off the IL is “the main goal,” since he is “feeling a lot better” than earlier in the week, even if the recovery process is “going a little slower than we anticipated.” Needless to say, it has been a “frustrating” time for the righty, who said that “every day, it’s just how can we make sure that I’m 100 percent especially going down the road for this next stretch.”
Eovaldi already missed a little more than month of the season due to inflammation in his lower back, and injuries have hampered the right-hander for much of his career. 2021 was a rare healthy season for Eovaldi, and he responded with a 3.75 ERA over 182 1/3 innings and a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting — indicative of just how high Eovaldi’s ceiling can be if he can just stay on the field.
With a 4.15 ERA over 99 2/3 innings this season, Eovaldi’s bottom-line numbers aren’t far off his 2021 totals, and he still has an elite walk rate. However, Eovaldi has allowed more hard contact than almost any other pitcher in the league, and his strikeout has dropped to a middling 22.7%. Despite this step backwards, Eovaldi is still arguably Boston’s best starting pitcher, and is critical to whatever chance the Red Sox might still have of sneaking back into the wild card hunt.
In the bigger picture, Eovaldi is also a free agent after the season, and would surely prefer to reach the open market without yet another IL stint on his resume. Eovaldi already hasn’t appeared in a game since August 12, and even with up to three days of backdating available on an injured-list placement, putting Eovaldi on the IL would keep him out of action until September. If Eovaldi is already feeling some improvement, the Sox could take the risk of leaving him off the IL, though another setback (which presumably would then make an IL stint a foregone conclusion) would delay his return even further.
Samuel
Eovaldi is at a point in his career where he needs to get to an organization that can rework him. Same as veterans such as Verlander and Cole did.
At age 32 he can still have another 5-7 years of quality, productive pitching.
I’d suggest the Astros, O’s, and Giants to start when looking for candidates that have a recent history of doing this (and I believe Eovaldi is from Houston).
Salvi
Eovaldi hasn’t had the health of Verlander and Cole in his career.
User 401527550
Or the talent of either.
JeffreyChungus
That’s only a defensible position if you only focus on his ERA, assume that his 2022 performance has absolutely nothing to do with being injured, and ignore his 3.02 FIP and 125 ERA+ from 20-21. You’re giving SF and BAL way too much credit for turning #5s into #4s as well.
Eovaldi probably would have given Ray a run for his money in the Cy Young race if Boston didn’t have the league’s worst infield defense last year. Even with the injuries, he’ll price himself well out of the Jordan Lyles/Alex Cobb range that you seem to think he’s in.
Salvi
If you had to guess, does he still get a QO from Red Sox?
GaryWarriorsRedSox
Oh definitely yes.
Rsox
Absolutely. And given the dearth of starting pitching on thr free agent market he will quickly reject too. Only way he considers taking it is if he doesn’t pitch the rest of this season and even then he probably still rejects it
User 401527550
Starting pitchers that are top 3 in rotation are no brainers to offer the QO.
Salvi
“top 3 in rotation” That depends on the rotation I would think. You going to QO National’s #3 if he was in the same place?
bcjd
Yes, he absolutely gets a QO. And guess what? Unless he comes back in September and blows everyone away, he absolutely accepts.
User 401527550
No one on the nats would be top 3 in rotation after signing so no. The top 3 value would be for the signing team that would give up a draft pick.
Salvi
“after signing” How would that work? A GM has to figure out where he’s going, and whether he’d be a Top 3 in THAT rotation, to determine if he’s going to offer a QO. Thats just a word salad.
User 401527550
What do you think gms do? Sit in their offices and wait for people like you to tell them a value of a pitcher? Every pitcher in the league has a value slotted in as top of the line starter, number 2 in rotation, end of the rotation. 90% of baseball is going to pay 20+ million a year for a top 3 veteran starter except for the couple of teams that are tanking.
Samuel
FletcherFan69;
Granted the O’s have not cleaned up a TOR pitcher – they haven’t had the opportunity to yet (Eovaldi would be that opportunity).
As for SF – the current administration unlocked Kevin Gausman when multiple teams over 7 years had tried and at best produced an inconsistent #3-4 starter; did a very nice job with Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Johnny Cueto…have kept Carlos Rodon on track….and are getting better results in 2/3’rs of a season with Jakob Junis than the Royals did in 5 years.
JoeBrady
the O’s have not cleaned up a TOR pitcher – they haven’t had the opportunity to yet (Eovaldi would be that opportunity).
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Eovaldi is decidedly not a TOR. He still some talent, and unless he doesn’t return, I’d offer him a QO and not care whether or not he accepts. But his IPs over the past 7 years:
2016 125
2017 -0-
2018 111
2019 68
2020 131 (pro-rated)
2021 182
2022 127 (extrapolated)
You can’t sign the guy thinking he is a full-time starter. I think that boat has already sailed.
acell10
Eovaldi year last year and for the shorten season was an anomaly for him. What we have seen this year is what he is. He’s a very good number 3 starter with a very checkered injury history who’s had less healthy seasons over the course of his contract vs injuries. He’s not worth the risk or the cost.
JoeBrady
He’s not worth the risk or the cost.
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I posted his innings above, but one could look at bWAR as well. In his career, he has had 3 seasons of higher than 2.0, and only one season higher than 2.3.
If someone wanted to sign him for say $57M/3, and you got lucky and got his three best years, you’d still only have 8.9 WAR over those three seasons. He’s probably a reasonable bet for one season, since barring catastrophic injury, he has a fairly high floor, but three years would be too high a risk.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I hear you about Eovaldi in 2021 but that’s basically his ceiling. Hasn’t done as well any other year besides the magical 2018 postseason.
Highest IQ
Back to Tampa
StPeteStingRays
…Bay
Northeasternskier
That IS the Red Sox. Massachusetts has some of the best medical minds in the country. Bartolo Colon came to the BoSox and he received a stem-cell injection in his arm and was rejevinated. We have taken plenty of reclamation projects in the past. Nates injury’s will drive down his resign cost for sure.
ChuckyNJ
Bartolo Colon wasnt’ fully rejuvenated until he hit a home run for the Mets.
Expos 94
I suppose the caution has nothing to do with the 30 spot the jays put up the last time they saw him…
(It almost certainly doesn’t, but it’s a bummer as a Jays fan not to see him)
Dorothy_Mantooth
This explains why Eovaldi has not looked the same since coming off the IL. It was obvious that something else was bothering him. Between the Sale broken wrist and Nate not being right, this team has no shot at making the playoffs now. Maybe they can get lucky in the draft lottery and get one of the top 6 picks in the 1st round. That’s about all us Sox fans have to look forward to.
Fever Pitch Guy
Dotty – It’s not uncommon for players to play through injuries. It’s widely believed Xander’s wrist has been bothering him for months, which would explain the sudden lack of power. And Devers is probably still experiencing back pain, which would explain his slump. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear about it after the season.
all in the suit that you wear
Fever: Good point. I think this adds to my belief that the Red Sox should not extend Devers until later next season or after next season. I would wait and see how he does next season. That lesson should have been learned with the Chris Sale extension. I assume Bogaerts is not coming back. What do you think?
JoeBrady
Unless there is an undisclosed injury, he’s gone. Just assume for the sake of discussion, that he is not injured, and that he needs to move to 3rd. What is the going price for 3B with maybe 13 Hrs and .300? That’s good, but that’s not close to $150M production.
I still think he is the team leader, and I’d like to retain him, but I don’t think he is worth getting into a bidding war over him. My hope is that no one else sees him as a SS, and then maybe we are looking at something reasonable.
all in the suit that you wear
Makes sense to me, Joe.
Fever Pitch Guy
suit – Devers is a free agent after next season, if he stays healthy he won’t forego free agency late next year or after next season. I think this offseason is the best time to lock him up, if they are comfortable with the medicals.
You’re absolutely right about Sale, but he was far more of an injury risk than Devers.
I seriously doubt Xander is returning. If the Sox wanted to keep him (for real, not just for show) they wouldn’t have waited until last offseason’s shortstop crop raised the bar with their mega-contracts. And they wouldn’t have signed Story.
Horace Fury
I think it’s very possible other teams try to sell Bogaerts on a position move as a condition of a new contract. He could very well find himself wanting back in on the rest of his current Sox contract. And as for Bogaerts having a probable injury sapping his power this year, I recall that this happened last year, too–he reached a point where the production fell off and I think there were quiet suggestions that he was hurt. Bogaerts does not do this team any favors by playing injured.
JoeBrady
He could very well find himself wanting back in on the rest of his current Sox contract.
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That’s my hope as well. I have no interest in signing him as a premium SS. But it’s possible that his agent will be talking to other GMs and find out there isn’t a huge market for him. This could be a Freddie Freeman situation he realizes that the world isn’t knocking on his door.
30 Parks
… should have been traded.
Thomar
That’s because Bloom doesn’t have a clue on the direction of the team. Boston fans and media have turned on him, the honeymoon is over and hopefully a divorce is in the immediate future.
Salvi
Dont think anyone turned on him. Its just been a season of injury after injury. No one turned on Kiki, Arroyo, Whitlock or Eovaldi. Well, they did turn on Sale, but he’s making 30mil and destroying TV sets, then crashing bikes.
Also, Im not sure how youve worked Bloom into being at fault for the injury.
Thomar
Not sure if you pay attention to articles from the Boston media, they turned on him as well as many fans in social media.
Salvi
Articles? Sure they talk about velocity being down, but thats just a fact. Not finding any that have ‘turned’ on him.
Mastrodonato 7/12 “He’s one of the few reasons, if any, to think the Red Sox can crawl back into the playoff chase.”
Guess I dont ‘pay attention’ to the same things you do.
Thomar
I’m talking about Bloom. You him? Lol
Salvi
Ah makes more sense. I agree then.
all in the suit that you wear
I think Bloom’s direction is running the Red Sox more like the Rays. I think John Henry wanted this which is why he hired him. So, the only question may be: Does John Henry have the resolve to keep going in the new direction if that many people are actually unhappy?
Dorothy_Mantooth
@Thomar – What we really don’t know is (and probably never will) is what direction Bloom was given by ownership. If their edict was to rebuild this team through prospects and the draft, Bloom has done quite well restocking the farm. The problem is that their best prospects are still 1-2 years away so will Bloom be able to last until then?
One thing for sure is that ownership is sensitive to its fanbase. I believe that is what led to the Story signing last offseason as that was completely out character for what this team has done since Bloom arrived. If the Sox lose 90+ games next year then I’m not sure that either Bloom or Cora will survive but I do think ownership has played a major part in the moves Bloom has made (and more importantly, not made) since arriving here.
Bobby smac9
Story was signed late. After the plethora of ss were signed. There were no mega deals that came forward allowing the Sox to pick him up well shy of 30mil AAV.
JoeBrady
media have turned on him
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Nonsense. The Boston media has bent over backwards to say nice things about Eovaldi, JD & Bogaerts.
30 Parks
True, Thomar. Where are all the Red Sox fans that told me I was wrong when I declared the Sox directionless soon after the Bloom hire? Where are all the “rebuilt farm system” backers? Sox are a good damn mess. Not to worry, Henry is forever changing his mind, this won’t last.
JoeBrady
Where are all the Red Sox fans that told me I was wrong when I declared the Sox directionless soon after the Bloom hire?
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We were here celebrating our trip to the ALCS last. Which you missed because you stopped showing up.
CravenMoorehead
100%. Let’s say by some chance this Sox team does make it into the playoffs…their best starting pitcher right now is Eovaldi (like the article mentions). They’re just not built to make a deep playoff run as of now. They should have been in sell mode at the deadline and I’m sure many fans of that franchise agree.
Dorothy_Mantooth
@Craven – The Sox best starting pitcher right now is Michael Wacha and it’s not even close. He has been excellent all season along. His only issue is staying healthy. I do agree a healthy Eovaldi makes this team much better but right now, Wacha is the Sox “ace” of the staff.
Gene325
No way Eovaldi is the team’s best starter, not even close. Wacha has posted dominant numbers. He’s definitely the team’s best starter. Unfortunately, he’s a FA at year’s end and it’s unlikely he remains in Boston.
User 401527550
You will get a better return with the pick compensation.
User 401527550
The Sox need to revamp their pitching this off-season and start spending some money again.
Dorothy_Mantooth
The Sox will have a huge list of needs this offseason. Pretty much everyone believes Bogaerts is leaving, as is JDM. Eovaldi, Wacha and Hill are all free agents as is Kiké Hernandez. The Sox have the worst OF in MLB from a power-hitting perspective, so the Sox offseason shopping list looks like this:
1) Catcher
2) 2B/SS (depending on where Story plays)
3) RF & CF – Duran is at best a 4th OF
4) 2 Bullpen Pitchers (re-signing Schreiber should be a top priority)
5) 2-3 Starting Pitchers – Depending on what they do with Paxton
6) Sign Devers to an extension (this is a MUST)
I don’t see Boston brining either Xander or Eovaldi back. They could opt to re-sign Christian Vasquez but I think they’ll go in a different direction behind the plate. I’d love to see Boston sign Mitch Haniger to a 2-3 deal and maybe take a 1 year flyer on Michael Conforto. Bringing Tommy Pham back is an option too but he really doesn’t move the needle all too much. Boston’s best prospects (except for Casas) won’t be ready until 2025, so the Sox need to sign some quality veterans on short term deals until their young talent is ready. The hardest spot to do that will be starting pitching so that makes me think they will bring Paxton back somehow. Then they need to decide if they take a chance on someone like Rodon or if they give their rookies a chance to earn a rotation spot. Unless the Red Sox get real lucky in free agency, 2023 and 2024 could be very bad seasons for this team. If they finish in last place next season, it will be interesting to see what happens to both Cora and Bloom. None of their rookies have contributed much to the big league team so far. If Casas fails next season along with Bello, then Bloom might be shown the door. I am optimistic about the long term future of the team but Boston fans expect a competitive team each season, so back to back last place finishes might cause them to make some non-player personnel changes.
YankeesBleacherCreature
There’s good reason why they didn’t blow up the team at the deadline. Big names still fill the seats. As you’ve noted, I think they’ll use some piece work signings until the next crop of players are ready.
Cap & Crunch
Sounds a lot like Sox fans are just being irrationally mad…
What’s the deal over there? I’m not saying Bloom and Co are killing it but man the last thing they need to do is give any thought to what the fanbase thinks
Fans are typically bias and all over the place and just want a shiny new toy every couple months. Nothing can be gained by lending them an ear
JoeBrady
None of their rookies have contributed much to the big league team so far.
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Do you Bloom’s rookies or the RS rookies? Because none of Bloom’s guys are close enough to contribute. If Henry judges Bloom on the farm, he will only look at the guys Bloom drafted.
Cap & Crunch
Yea I was super confused by that as well Joe ?
Hot tub time machine maybe?
Bobby smac9
@Dorothy, I’m concerned about Devers and his physical conditioning. or lack there of. He looks to be out of shape. Signing him long term would be incumbent on him showing up next spring ready to play.
Nobby
The team is a dumpster fire and Nate sits in the middle of the burning mess.
GaryWarriorsRedSox
.500 is a dumpster fire? Tough crowd.
JoeBrady
.492 with 44 starts made by pitchers not in the original rotation.
Occams_hairbrush
And they made the ALCS last year. Red Sox fans are divas.
chemfinancing
Jeez tough blow for Boston things are looking bleak for the last place Red Sox
Gwynning
Veering off topic here: how has Kutter Crawford looked in ’22? I haven’t had the opportunity to catch one of his starts, just curious to hear any tales and takes from RS fans.
JoeBrady
I never thought that Crawford was going to be much more than a #6/LR, so I am pretty pleased with his performance. He got wiped out in his last performance, but had a 3.33/3.62 ERA/FIP in his previous 10 games. And he has a 2.91 K/W for the full year. He’s probably almost at his innings limit, so it is possible he is grinding down.
But imho, Kutter has been one of the silver linings.
Datashark
Eovaldi is in a contract year with all these injuries is not a good showing for him