Postseason Star Reportedly Had Interest In Joining Yankees Last Offseason

Did the Yankees make the right decision not bringing in the All-Star last year?

The New York Yankees' starting rotation could've used some work this season.

New York entered the season with high hopes and one of the best rotations in baseball on paper but injuries and inconsistent play turned the rotation on its head. The Yankees' rotation actually ended up being a weakness of the club this season and now the club will need to look to add this offseason.

One player who had success in 2023 and would've been a solid fit for New York and even had interest in joining the club before signing elsewhere reportedly was Texas Rangers star Nathan Eovaldi, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. 

"Nate Eovaldi had interest in returning to the Yankees before the Rangers won the bidding," Heyman said. "Aaron Nola and Jordan Montgomery are showing their free-agent value."

Eovaldi spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Yankees and would've been an intriguing reunion option. The two-time All-Star ultimately ended up signing with Texas and had a very solid season compiling a 3.63 ERA in 25 starts while striking out 132 batters in 144 innings pitched. Eovaldi has been even more impressive in the postseason so far for the Rangers and in two starts have allowed just two earned runs across 13 2/3 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts. 

It sounds like the Yankees also had interest in a reunion with Eovaldi but didn't match the two-year, $34 million deal Texas offered. Hindsight is 20-20 but adding Eovaldi could have been a solid move but is now in the past. New York will have plenty of starting pitching options this offseason and likely will add at least one new hurler.