Former Boston Red Sox Pitcher Says He Thought He Could Stay in Boston Before Signing in Texas

As he returned back to Boston on Tuesday for the first time as a member of the Texas Rangers, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi discussed how his offseason contract negotiations went down.

Speaking on the field at Fenway Park on Tuesday, former Boston Red Sox pitcher and current Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi discussed his offseason contract negotiations and how he landed in Texas.

Eovaldi said that he thought all along that he would be able to come back to Boston, where he had been since midway through the 2018 season, but that it didn't end up materializing.

You can hear his comments in full courtesy of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast host Rob Bradford:

"I was positive that I'd be able to come back, again, we stayed in contact with everybody during the negotiation process. We let them know other deals that we were getting and tried to make sure that we kept that door open as long as possible but it just came to that point where it was time to move on."

‘I was positive I would be able to come back …’ pic.twitter.com/AGdYvn16X8

— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) July 4, 2023

Eovaldi was offered a one-year qualifying offer from the Red Sox before hitting free agency but turned it down. He eventually signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Rangers in the offseason and has been one of the best pitchers in the American League. He has a vesting option for a third year.

He's 10-3 with a 2.64 this season for the American League West leaders, having struck out 106 batters in 112.1 innings.

He was also named to the All-Star team for the second time in his career.

Eovaldi is in his 12th year in the majors with the Dodgers, Marlins, Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Rangers. He joined the Red Sox in the 2018 season and helped them win the 2018 World Series.

He was named an All-Star in 2021. The Red Sox certainly could use him this season, as they are dealing with all kinds of rotation turmoil. Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock are all injured. 

At the time of this posting, the Rangers lead the Red Sox, 6-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning.

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