Nathan Eovaldi To Red Sox? Why Reunion Trade Makes Sense For Boston

There reportedly is a “strong likelihood” the Boston Red Sox pursue a reunion with recently designated for assignment pitcher James Paxton.

But there’s another pitcher the Red Sox should be looking to get back together with before the MLB trade deadline passes next week.

Nathan Eovaldi last pitched for the Red Sox in 2022 and sure would look good in a Boston uniform again. Plus, he would be a terrific solution to the club’s starting rotation issue.

The Red Sox have had a hole in their starting staff ever since Garrett Whitlock went down with a season-ending injury. Boston tried to patch the hole with Cooper Criswell, Josh Winckowski and bullpen games, but Eovaldi would be a massive upgrade in that spot.

The 34-year-old is having another strong season with the Texas Rangers. He owns a 6-4 record in 17 starts to go along with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.071 WHIP — the second-lowest mark of his career. Eovaldi also recorded 94 strikeouts in 99 innings.

Eovaldi isn’t at the heights of his powers like he was when he helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, but the veteran right-hander is still a high-quality big-league pitcher.

The biggest upside in acquiring Eovaldi is his postseason track record. He goes to another level in October, something he showed with the Red Sox and something he did last season with the Rangers. Eovaldi went 5-0 for Texas in the 2023 postseason en route to the Rangers winning the World Series.

The Red Sox are in the thick of a playoff race in the American League and Eovaldi’s big-game experience would tremendously aid them in securing a postseason spot. And if Boston was able to make the playoffs, then the Red Sox would have a proven playoff performer in Eovaldi they could lean on.

The Rangers won’t just give up Eovaldi, though. Texas is at a crossroads in its season as the trade deadline approaches with the Rangers sitting four games under .500 and four games out of the top spot in the AL West heading into Tuesday’s action. Despite the Rangers expecting reinforcements off the injured list, a few more losses might push the Texas brass to sell with Eovaldi being a prime candidate to be traded.

“It’s my job to not only evaluate the present, but also evaluate the future and make decisions based upon what’s best for this franchise this year, in 2025, and beyond,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said Tuesday, per Sports Illustrated’s Stefan Stevenson.

Eovaldi’s contract might be a hindrance to the Red Sox. H makes $17 million this season and has a vesting option for $20 million next season. But that shouldn’t stop Boston from making a least an offer on the two-time All-Star.

Even though Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow shouldn’t get caught up in the nostalgia of the move, he should realize that what Eovaldi provided them in the past, he could provide much of the same in the future, too.