#5: Red Sox SP Nathan Eovaldi
Coming in at number five is Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi is one heck of a pitcher, and he’s aging been like a fine wine. He has only gotten better with age while being with the Red Sox. His ERA has progressively improved each season.
Even though he is one of the best pitchers on this Red Sox team, the reason I have him coming in at number five is because of how much money it will cost to keep him around.
Currently he is making $17 million a year and he has earned every single penny of that. From what he did in the 2018 World Series Championship run to becoming an ace due to all the injuries that are going on with Chris Sale.
He is going to be paid more than that $17 million and I could see him making between $20-25 million a year. Knowing this Red Sox regime, they are not going to pay him especially when other younger players deserve to get paid.
The only chance I see the Red Sox bringing Eovaldi back is if Sale decides to opt out and the chances of that happenig are slim to none as I doubt anyone will want to pay Sale anything close to what he is making.