3 Key players who might receive Qualifying Offers from the Red Sox
Will the Red Sox make a Qualifying Offer to Nathan Eovaldi?
Nathan Eovaldi will go down in franchise history as one of, if not the best midseason trade they’ve ever made.
When the Sox acquired Eovaldi at the 2018 deadline, it was not an impressive trade. He’d never been particularly remarkable with the Dodgers, Marlins, or Yankees, and the Rays were happy to send him to Boston.
But when he arrived in Boston, he instantly proved every doubter wrong. Over 12 games in the regular season, he posted a 3.33 ERA. His first two starts were seven and eight-inning shutouts, the latter coming in the Sox’ famous four-game sweep of the Yankees after GM Brian Cashman’s now-famous ‘Do Damage’ comments.
He continued to prove himself in the postseason, and cemented himself as a Sox legend in the World Series, when he threw nearly 100 pitches in relief in Game 3. For six breathtaking innings, he held down the fort. Though the Sox ended up losing 3-2, his performance inspired his teammates to fight back to win the following two games to bring a trophy back to Boston.
Unfortunately, injuries have peppered his career since high school. He’s had Tommy John surgery twice. In 2019, he had another elbow surgery to remove a loose body from his pitching elbow. In 2020, a right calf strain landed him on the Injured List. In June of this year, he went on the IL with lower back inflammation, and he returned to the IL in late August with right shoulder inflammation.
Eovaldi has been a dominant workhorse and electric competitor for Boston, but he can’t pitch forever. With how many pitchers have gotten injured this year and the impact it caused on the team, it’s safe to assume the Sox won’t be eager to dole out offers to repeat this season next year.
Will the Red Sox make a Qualifying Offer to Michael Wacha?
The Sox signed Michael Wacha to a one-year deal for the 2022 season, and he turned out to be a surprisingly great addition to the starting rotation.
Despite missing time due to injury (like most of his fellow pitchers), Wacha is having a stellar year. Over 19 starts, including a complete-game shutout, he has a 2.69 ERA and 1.028 WHIP.
If the Sox are going to extend a qualifying offer to Wacha or Eovaldi, the former has youth on his side. He just turned 31 years old in July, making him a couple of years younger than Eovaldi, who will turn 33 in February.
However, Wacha had several rough seasons before coming to Boston, which should give the front office rightful pause. Between 2017-21, he posted a 4.51 ERA, 4.49 FIP, and 1.388 WHIP over 111 games. Since arriving in Boston, Eovaldi has a 4.12 ERA, 3.76 FIP, and 1.277 WHIP 94 games.
The Sox may extend qualifying offers to both, one, or neither of their starters. Either way, they have enough money to play with this offseason to ensure that they can build a stronger rotation next season.
