MLB trade rumors: Yankees scouting Rays’ Nathan Eovaldi?

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nathan Eovaldi could be traded before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver deadline. General manager Brian Cashman could be interested in the former Yankee as a possible replacement for Sonny Gray in the starting rotation. The Yankees have also been linked to Texas Rangers southpaw Cole Hamels, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ and Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer.

The Yankees enter play Monday with the second-best record in the majors (58-29), but remain two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

If the Yankees want to catch the Sox, and avoid having to qualify for the playoffs as a wild card, general manager Brian Cashman needs to do something about the starting pitching.

Masahiro Tanaka is just coming back from a pair of injured hamstrings. Jordan Montgomery is out for the year with Tommy John surgery. And Sonny Gray looks completely lost on the mound.

So far, Cashman has been linked to the usual suspects available before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline: Texas Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ and Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer.

But there’s a new name on the Yankees’ radar, and it’s a familiar one: ex-Yankee and current Tampa Bay Ray Nathan Eovaldi. The right-hander flirted with a perfect game Sunday against the Mets, and the Yankees had front-row seats per the New York Post:

The Yankees were among the teams with scouts in attendance, according to reports, as Eovaldi — pitching in the final year of his contract — has become a potential trade target for contenders.

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Eovaldi pitched seven innings, giving up just one hit (a Brandon Nimmo single in the seventh) and striking out nine. He picked up the win in the 9-0 victory over the Mets. Eovaldi improved to 3-3 this season with a 3.35 ERA in eight starts.

The Yankees released Eovaldi in November of 2017 following his second Tommy John surgery. He wanted to return to New York, but the interest was not mutual and he instead took a one-year, $2-million contract from the Rays, with a second-year $2-million option.

Eovladi pitched two seasons with the Yankees, going 23-11 with a 4.45 ERA. The team had acquired him from the Marlins in a five-player deal before the 2015 season.

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