According to Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors, former Yankees starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is close to signing a major league deal with the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, as first reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
#Rays are close to signing RHP Nathan Eovaldi to major-league deal, with ’18 option. Is recovering from TJ surgery, so out for ’17. #Yankees
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 12, 2017
The on-going negotiations include a major league deal with a 2018 option as Eovaldi will miss all of the 2017 season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery.
Eovaldi has been a free agent since the Yankees released him in November, three months after his August surgery. The soon to be 27-year-old flame-throwing starter, who had previously undergone the Tommy John procedure as an amateur, had his right flexor tendon repaired during his most recent procedure as well.
Coming off another up and down year with the Yankees, Eovaldi averaged a career high 97 mph on his fastball, but struck out only seven batters per nine innings and posted a below average 4.76 ERA over 124 2/3 innings.
While showing flashes of his potentially high ceiling, Eovaldi continued to struggle with the long ball, as he gave up homers on almost 19 percent of fly balls.
If able to successfully recover by 2018, Eovaldi projects to provide the Rays with strong bullpen help if unable to slot into their starting rotation.
In two seasons with New York, Eovaldi owned a 23-11 record with a 4.45 ERA.
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