It’s no secret that the New York Yankees are interested in signing top free-agent pitcher Carlos Rodon. While a formal offer is being made to him, remember his agent is Scott Boras and negotiating with him is never easy. While Rodon talks are ongoing, the Yankees are reportedly looking at Nathan Eovaldi if they are unsuccessful in getting Rodon. However, I believe the Yankees should skip out on any Nathan Eovaldi reunions.
Eovaldi has spent the past five seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he had an up-and-down tenure. Various injuries and inconsistency marred Eovaldi’s time in Boston. While three out of five seasons were a career-best in terms of ERA, he only had one truly healthy season. His best record was only 11-9, and never got into double-digit win totals in four out of five seasons.
Nathan Eovaldi Was a Yankee Once Before
Nathan Eovaldi was a Yankees from 2015-2016. He was acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins. His two seasons with the Yankees were marred by injuries. On paper, his first season with the Yankees could be considered a success. He finished the 2015 season with a record of 14-3 and an ERA of 4.20 to go along with 121 strikeouts. However, his season ended in September due to elbow inflammation.
His last season in New York was a nightmare. His ERA ballooned to 4.76, and he gave up a career-high 23 home runs. Eovaldi would see his season end in August due to tearing his flexor tendon and UCL. Later that season, he would undergo his second Tommy John surgery and be forced to miss the 2017 season. The Yankees would eventually release him after that season.
Remember the Javier Vasquez Reunion Disaster?
The last time the Yankees brought back a player for a second stint was with Javier Vazquez in 2010. New York brought Vazquez back via trade with the Atlanta Braves. In 2004 Vazquez was selected to his only All-Star team during his first stint. However, his second stint in pinstripes was a disaster. He finished his second stint with a record of 10-10 and an ERA of 5.32. He also gave up 32 home runs in 2010. Only James Shields and Rodrigo Lopez gave up more that season.
At one point during that season, manager Joe Girardi temporarily demoted him to the bullpen due to his struggles. While he was on the postseason roster that year, he didn’t appear in any of their games. The Yankees let him leave as a free agent at the end of the 2010 season.
The Yankees Need to Do Better
The last thing the Yankees need to do is bring on another player who is inconsistent and has injury issues. Inconsistency and injuries doomed the Yankees in the second half of the 2022 season and the postseason. If the Yankees really liked Eovaldi so much, they wouldn’t have released him after the 2016 season. Second stints with a team almost never work out, and the Yankees are in no position to try that experiment again. Considering how hard the Yankees are pursuing Carlos Rodon, getting Eovaldi would be a major letdown anyway.
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