MLB rumors: Red Sox bracing for Yankees’ interest in Nathan Eovaldi

Boston Red Sox right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will be in demand in free agency, following his stellar performance in the 2018 playoffs, including three appearances in the World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Will Yankees general manager Brian Cashman try to poach Eovaldi from Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski?

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has a quick and easy way to change the balance of power with the Red Sox in the American League East: sign free-agent right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.

The former Yankee was one of Boston’s World Series heroes, highlighted by his epic relief performance in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which lasted 18 innings.

According to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox are aware of potential interest by the Yankees:

The Yankees likely will kick the tires on a lot of pitchers. Patrick Corbin likely will be high on the list. Maybe even Nathan Eovaldi, a pitcher Cashman once had and let go after a few months after Eovaldi needed Tommy John surgery.

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Eovaldi’s agents, the Levinsons, are already here trying to see what the landscape is for their client this offseason. The right-hander’s bound to be in great demand as a free agent. In a perfect world, Eovaldi would likely return to the Red Sox as the third or fourth starter on a talented staff. But as (Dave) Dombrowski has pointed out on a few occasions, it’s unrealistic to think that you can bring back a championship team in its entirety. Still, if you had the opportunity to bring back one of the Sox free agents, Eovaldi would probably be the unanimous choice because he was so important to the cause.

14 things learned at GM Meetings

The Yankees dumped Eovaldi after his second Tommy John surgery in 2016.

He had fully recovered by July of 2018, when the Red Sox acquired Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays.

He made a total of six appearances in the 2018 playoffs, including four out of the bullpen. Eovaldi went 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA in the postseason, and regularly topped 100 mph on the radar gun.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.