Nathan Eovaldi is out for the rest of 2017 after suffering a Tommy John injury in August of last year. However, this did not keep suitors from pursuing him in the offseason as the market for fastballs such as Eovaldi is significantly big.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays and Eovaldi have reached an agreement to a major-league contract for 2017. Expectedly, the contract includes a club option for 2018 when Eovaldi is anticipated to recover and for the Rays to reap value from the deal. Topkins also notes that Eovaldi would be put on the 40-man roster and later to the 60-day DL which essentially means that he will not be on the 40-man roster for 2017.
#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) 12 February 2017
As for the financial details of the deal, Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the deal between the Rays and Eovaldi encompasses a $2 million salary for 2017 and the 2018 club option along with incentives. Eovaldi's last contract with the New York Yankees in 2016 included a $5.6 million salary.
Nathan Eovaldi's deal with the Rays: a $2m salary for 2017 with a club option for 2018 and incentives. Recovering from Tommy John surgery. — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) 12 February 2017
Eovaldi, who turns 27 today, pitched to a 4.76 ERA and 2.43 K/BB ratio in 124 2/3 innings for the Yankees last season. So far in his career, he owns a 94 ERA+ along with 2.26 K/BB in six major-league seasons.
The Rays also signed another player recovering from injury in free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos in the offseason. Ramos is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee and is not expected to return until later in June.
Eovaldi has an average of 98.4 mph per fastball and touched 100 few times for every start. Alec Brzezinski of Sporting News reports that the Rays could get a steal if Eovaldi recovers after this season.
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