McAdam: Moving Nathan Eovaldi to the bullpen reeks of desperation

Nathan Eovaldi hasn't pitched for the Red Sox since April and there's no firm target for when he will pitch for them again.

But when he does, according to a report, it will likely be as their new closer.

Tom Caron of NESN reported that the Sox will shift Eovaldi from the starting rotation to the bullpen. Eovaldi, who originally was placed on the DL with an elbow issue that required surgery but has since suffered another setback with biceps tendinitis, has only been playing catch in his latest rehab attempt and is likely weeks away from a return to action.

It's easy to see why the Red Sox are turning to Eovaldi. He's pitched in relief before -- most famously for six innings in the marathon World Series Game 3 last October. And the Sox don't have any other readily available options at their disposal. There are no relievers in their minor league system capable of making the jump to major league closer.

Worse, the Red Sox' system, depleted by a series of trades, is only now getting replenished, with some evaluators ranking their system among the thinnest in the game. And over the weekend in London, owner John Henry said the Sox, already with the highest payroll in the game for the second straight season and nearing, again, the third and final luxury tax threshold and its attendant penalties, the Sox don't have a lot of room to add salary.

Still, desperate as they are, this move makes little sense on a number of fronts. Let us count the ways:



This can't be good for Eovaldi physically.

Eovaldi has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries and at least two other procedures -- including one earlier this season -- to remove loose bodies from the elbow.

Pitching out of the bullpen won't help. While a starter racks up far more innings, there's a routine and predictability to his schedule. He's asked to pitch every five days, with time off in between to prepare and recover.

That's not the case out of the bullpen, when game situations can change quickly and require an appearance -- one, by the way, under the most demanding of circumstances. By definition, every game appearance for a closer is a high-leverage situation.

Eovaldi has little experience closing games.

Yes, Eovaldi made an appearance out of the bullpen in the regular season after joining the Red Sox just prior to last July's trade deadline, then four more in the postseason, highlighted by his epic turn in Game 3.

But he's never recorded a major league save in his career, and his only save in pro ball came 10 years ago in Class A.

Expecting Eovaldi to step in and get the final three outs in a one-run game is folly.

The Red Sox talk all the time about putting players in position to succeed; what they're doing with Eovaldi here is 180 degrees from that maxim.

This move contradicts everything the Red Sox did last offseason.

The Sox made two moves of consequence last winter: they brought back DH/1B Steve Pearce to a one-year, $6.25-million deal and re-signed Eovaldi to a four-year, $68-million contract.

In doing so, they defied the trend in the game of putting more emphasis on bullpen usage and instead, committed fully to the rotation, signaling that they would attempt to defend their World Series title the old-fashioned way: by depending on their starters to keep them in games and give them a chance win every night.

That hasn't worked, of course. Their starters' ERA is 4.65, good for seventh in the American League.

There were plenty of bullpen options on the free-agent market, but the Sox passed on every one of them, with an arrogance that was palpable.

Now, in their hour of need, they're moving a $17 million starter into a role in which he's had little experience, hoping he can save their season.