Is Xander Bogaerts in for a culture shock in San Diego?
The Red Sox are zeroed in on adding to their starting rotation, but all indications is that they don't view Nathan Eovaldi has a top priority to fill the void.
According to a major league source, other teams are showing more interest in the free agent pitcher than the level currently displayed by the Red Sox.
To date, multiple clubs (mostly those viewed to be in win-now mode) have explored adding Eovaldi.
Prior to tagging Eovaldi with a qualifying offer, the Red Sox did extend the 32-year-old a multi-year contract. He proceeded to decline the opportunity for a one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer deal with the Sox, resulting in a draft pick penalty for any team (other than Boston) who signed him as a free agent.
One team that was believed to be in on Eovaldi, the Mets, rounded out their rotation by agreeing to a five-year, $75 million with Kodai Senga. The Blue Jays are also known to be interested in Eovaldi.
Some other starting pitchers still available in the free agent include Chris Bassitt (who has a qualifying offer attached), Michael Wacha and Noah Syndergaard, Ross Stripling, and the most notable name Carlos Rodon (who also will cost draft picks to sign).
Asked about the status of the Red Sox pursuit of Eovaldi on the final day of the Winter Meetings, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said, "Nothing to report there other than, I think everybody knows the situation, there has been contact and there has been mutual desire for him to come back here. But nothing to report on that front."