The Boston Red Sox very much would like to keep Nathan Eovaldi around, it appears.
The Red Sox and Houston Astros are the two "leading contenders" to sign the right-handed pitcher in free agency, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Friday.
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Feinsand noted other teams have interest in Eovaldi, as well, and a report earlier this week suggested Philadelphia Phillies are among those clubs.
The 28-year-old turned out to be one of Dave Dombrowski's best acquisitions at the 2018 trade deadline. After posting a 3.33 ERA over 12 appearances for Boston down the stretch, Eovaldi blossomed into a postseason hero, entering Red Sox folklore with an epic six-inning relief appearance in Game 3 of the World Series.
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Those efforts may drive up his price tag, but it sounds like Dombrowski and Co. would love to have Eovaldi return as a back-end starter and/or postseason bullpen weapon.
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