The Hot Stove is starting to leave simmer and we can finally feel the heat. This free agency, it's started with pitching. And the second piece to the puzzle is Nathan Eovaldi.
After becoming a postseason hero, Eovaldi is returning to the Red Sox, according to multiple national reports. The two sides have agreed to a four-year, $67.5 million deal, according to Mark Feinsand.
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For all he did in the Boston's World Series run, Eovaldi clearly placed himself outside of the A's and many others' price range. Between the Rays and Red Sox, Eovaldi went 6-7 with a 3.81 ERA, but then in 22 1/3 innings during the playoffs, he allowed just four earned runs.
Perhaps no other team in baseball needs starting pitching more than the A's. Oakland essentially has no starting rotation right now -- that's not an exaggeration -- but now they can see how much top arms are costing teams.
Patrick Corbin cost the Nationals $140 million and the Red Sox are paying Eovaldi, who has already had Tommy John surgery twice, just under $70 million. The A's are already in talks with bringing back Trevor Cahill, which won't take a big chunk out of their wallet.
After surprising everyone last season, Billy Beane has made it clear starting pitching is his No. 1 target this offseason. Does that mean taking a long look at Dallas Keuchel now that Corbin and Eovaldi are gone?
Oakland Athletics
The Red Sox are primed to make a repeat run, and if the A's want to build off last season, they're going to have to get serious about starting pitchers.