Yankees Should Still Explore Extension for Nathan Eovaldi

Even with the news that Nathan Eovaldi requires two elbow surgeries that will cause him to miss the 2017 season, the Yankees should consider offering him an extension.

While he wasn’t promising a discount, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi told Andrew Marchand of ESPN earlier in the season that he would be open to discussing a long-term contract extension with the New York Yankees, telling the reporter, “I love it here.”

When the news broke that Eovaldi would need two surgeries on his right elbow (one to repair a torn flexor tendon and one to address a partially torn UCL) many assumed that his time with the Yankees had come to an end.

The combined rehab time for the surgeries will be at least 16-18 months. At best, Eovaldi might be ready to begin the 2018 season, assuming everything goes well. Having a second TJ surgery is a scary proposition.

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Even then, it will take some time for him to shake off the rust of missing so much time. We saw the effect the surgery had on Ivan Nova.

Still, given the inflated prices of starting pitching, it might make sense for the Yankees to make a modest two or three year investment in Nathan Eovaldi. Remember that Ian Kennedy got five years and $70 million this offseason.

If Eovaldi would take something like two years and $10 million or three and $15 million, wouldn’t New York have to consider it? Nasty Nate hasn’t earned a ton in his career, and this second surgery might have him worried about his ability to earn long-term. This type of offer from New York could ultimately benefit both sides.

For all of their hot-shot position player prospects, the Yankees have very little young pitching depth. Luis Severino has struggled mightily and could end up in the bullpen. Luis Cessa, Chad Green, Dietrich Enns, and Jordan Montgomery are probably fifth or sixth starter types at best.

Top prospects James Kaprielian, Domingo Acevedo, and Ian Clarkin have all had serious set backs with injuries.

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The Yankees have taken this approach with pitchers in the past. Jon Lieber, Andrew Bailey, and David Aardsma are all examples of guys brought in on mult-year deals with the hope they would perform well at a discount after their rehab. Eovaldi is younger and has a higher ceiling than anyone in that group.

He could very well end up a steal for New York if they’re willing to roll the dice.