The New York Yankees appear to be engaged in talks with free agent left-hander Carlos Rodon, the top starting pitcher on the market.
But the market for starting pitchers is quite competitive, and Rodon has plenty of other suitors.
However, the Yankees do appear to have a backup plan in case Rodon signs elsewhere, and it’s a name that Yankees fans are quite familiar with.
Veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who has spent the past five seasons with the Boston Red Sox, appears to be on the Yankees’ radar.
The right-hander went 6-3 in 20 starts with a 3.87 ERA over 109.1 innings of work in 2022.
Yankees Interested In Nathan Eovaldi https://t.co/BSeuhDxYx1 pic.twitter.com/SIumV5UySZ
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) December 14, 2022
Eovaldi On Yankees Radar
Eovaldi spent two seasons with the Yankees, having signed with the team prior to the start of the 2015 season.
His numbers weren’t exactly great in the Bronx.
In his first season, he won 14 games, but posted a 4.20 ERA.
The next year, the veteran right-hander posted a 4.76 ERA.
The 32-year-old then spent a few years with the Tampa Bay Rays, but missed the entire 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander was traded to the Red Sox in 2018 and later re-signed to a four-year deal.
There, he emerged as a frontline starter and played a key role in Boston’s 2018 World Series run, even pitching six innings in relief in Game 3 of the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Eovaldi could be a cheaper option for teams in need of starting pitching this offseason, which includes the Yankees.
New York recently lost right-hander Jameson Taillon to the Chicago Cubs in free agency.
NEXT: The Yankees May Miss Out On A Top Pitching Target