Boston Red Sox Acquire Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from Tampa Bay Rays

Nathan Eovaldi with the Yankees. Photo by REX/Shutterstock

Nathan Eovaldi was about to start a game for his Tampa Bay Rays against New York Yankees on Wednesday, but two hours before the game time, he was already someone else’s player. Boston Red Sox announced the same day that they had acquired Eovaldi while sending minor league pitcher Jalen Beeks in exchange.

Nathan Eovaldi, who is set to become a free agent after this season, said that he expected being traded at some point.

I assumed there was a possibility, of course, especially where I am in my career and the way my contract was for this year,” – said Eovaldi after the trade was made public. “I was assuming that I would be traded, but as for what team it would be, I wasn’t thinking about that at all.

The 28-year-old also said that he was excited his next destination will be Boston.

When they said, ‘It’s Boston,’ I can’t help but be excited about that,”- he added. “First place, that says a lot, knowing how tough our division is. I’m really excited to be going over there and helping that team.

Nathan Eovaldi missed the entire 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned on May 30, 2018, almost a year and a half after his last game. Eovaldi went on to play 10 games for Rays in this season and had a 3-4 record with a 4.26 ERA.