BOSTON BRINGS IN EOVALDI FROM TAMPA BAY
The Boston Red Sox acquired pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Jalen Beeks.
What does it give the Boston Red Sox
For the Red Sox, this trade balances out their starting rotation a little bit better, with right-hander Eovaldi now joining Rick Porcello to counter left-handers Chris Sale, David Price, Drew Pomeranz et al. One day after the Yankees acquired left-handed reliever Zach Britton from Baltimore, Boston felt the urge to improve as well. This deal is a short-term win for Boston.
What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
In Beeks, the Rays land a solid starting pitching prospect who could find his way into the Tampa Bay rotation before long. Beeks struggled in his Red Sox debut this season, but the 25-year-old left-hander should feel less pressure pitching for the Rays down the stretch. He has decent upside and is a solid addition in exchange for a pending free agent.
Fantasy impact
Eovaldi should see his fantasy stock rise for the final two-plus months of the 2018 MLB campaign. Meanwhile, Beeks' long-range prognosis improves as well now that he is more likely to crack Tampa Bay's rotation than had he remained in Boston. The biggest losers after this trade are Eduardo Rodriguez (currently on the DL) and Brian Johnson, since the last spot in Boston's rotation appears to now belong to Eovaldi (at least for the rest of 2018).
