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SPORTS Tuesday 11 december 2018

Eovaldi wanted to remain in Red Sox rotation, not relieve

By RONALD BLUM al rallying point for the Red
AP Baseball Writer Sox, who won the next two
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan nights for their fourth title in
Eovaldi loved what he 15 seasons.
started in Boston — empha- “The conversations in be-
sis on started. tween innings, they were
“There were a lot of teams cool,” Cora said. “I remem-
that reached out, wanted ber the last one, when I
me to be a closer,” he said. asked him: How are you
“I view myself as a starter, feeling? He said, ‘Let me
and that’s something I’ve finish it.’ He said it with a
always done my entire ca- lot of conviction. I knew he
reer. And I enjoy doing that. was good.”
So if I had that choice, I still Cora also remembered Eo-
wanted to be a starter.” valdi’s arrival at the Dodg-
After shifting to the bullpen er Stadium breakfast room
for three World Series relief the next day.
appearances, including “He said he was ready for it
an epic 97-pitch outing in that night — not that I was
an 18-inning loss , Eovaldi going to use him, of course.
decided last week to stay I’m not that stupid,” Cora
with the Red Sox for a $68 said.
million, four-year contract . Boston’s projected rotation
“I can’t wait to see him includes Sale, David Price,
again with us. He’s going Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi attends the Major League Baseball winter meetings, Rick Porcello, Eovaldi and
to be a huge part of this Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. Eduardo Rodriguez. Sale
rotation,” Red Sox manag- Associated Press and Porcello can become
er Alex Cora said Monday intrigued teams as he be- League Championship Se- ton’s ninth pitcher of the free agents after next sea-
during a winter meetings came a free agent. ries and got four outs as a game. Ace Chris Sale and son.
news conference. “He’s a Before October, Eovaldi’s bridge to closer Craig Kim- Drew Pomeranz were the “It’s going to be a juggling
workaholic.” career was most notable brel in the Game 5 finale. only remaining arms avail- act over the next several of
Eovaldi averaged nearly for a pair of Tommy John Transformed to a setup able. years,” Red Sox president
98 mph with his fastball surgeries. Acquired from man, Eovaldi twice pitched Eovaldi kept going, al- of baseball operations
during the regular season Tampa Bay in July , the perfect eighth innings as lowing Yasiel Puig’s tying Dave Dombrowski said.
but reached 100 mph six 28-year-old right-hander Boston took a 2-0 World Se- single in the 13th and Max “We know we’re not going
times in the first two games beat the New York Yankees ries lead against the Dodg- Muncy’s leading home run to be able to sign every-
against the Los Angeles in Game 3 of the Division ers. in the 18th, which gave the body, but the more stability
Dodgers, not needing to Series, then defeated Hous- He entered Game 3 at the Dodgers a 3-2 win. Eovaldi’s that’s out there, the better
hold back. That velocity ton in the third game of the start of the 12th inning, Bos- effort became an emotion- off we are.”q

Reggie McKenzie Cooper was dealt in Oc-
tober to Dallas for another
Continued from Page 17 land and wishing him well. first-round pick.
“We won a game last With those deals, only nine
McKenzie’s influence with night and I went home,” players drafted by McKen-
the Raiders had waned Gruden said. “Obviously, zie from 2012 to 2017 re-
ever since the triumphant there was a meeting last main on the active roster.
news conference to night and changes have Despite all that, McKen-
welcome Gruden back been made. I respect zie downplayed any rift in
to Oakland in January. everything that this orga- the relationship that dated
Gruden got rid of several nization is about. I can’t back to the 1990s when
of the players McKenzie exactly answer why the both worked together in
had acquired, most no- change was made last Green Bay. “Gruden and
tably edge rusher Khalil night, but changes were I, we work together very
Mack and receiver Amari made, and we got to well,” McKenzie said after
Cooper. continue to fight and con- In this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, Oakland Raiders new head coach the Cooper trade. “Let’s
Jon Gruden, center, poses for photographs next to owner Mark
“I’m not going to sit up tinue to build this team Davis, left, and general manager Reggie McKenzie during an get no mistakes about him
here today and talk back and that’s what we NFL football press conference in Alameda, Calif. pushing me out. That’s not
about any disconnect,” are going to do.” Associated Press happening. Me not being
Gruden said. “We were Director of college scout- salary cap purgatory, and after years of courting. able to work with Gruden?
connected. We were very ing Shawn Herock will built a roster that went 12-4 Gruden set out to over- That’s furthest from the
good friends and very handle the GM duties dur- under coach Jack Del Rio haul the roster, trading truth. OK?”
connected. I’ll leave it at ing the search process. in 2016, earning him hon- away and cutting many The highlight of McKen-
that.” McKenzie was the first ma- ors as the league’s top ex- of McKenzie’s former draft zie’s tenure came in the
Gruden said owner Mark jor hire made by Davis af- ecutive. picks. That accelerated a 2014 draft, when he put to-
Davis informed McKen- ter he took over the team But the Raiders slumped week before the start of gether the nucleus of Oak-
zie of the move and the following the death of his to a 6-10 record last sea- the season when Mack land’s only playoff team
Raiders only issued a brief father, Al, in 2011. McKen- son, leading Davis to fire was dealt to Chicago for since going to the Super
statement thanking McK- zie modernized the fran- Del Rio and get Gruden a package including two Bowl following the 2002
enzie for his time in Oak- chise, got the team out of to take the hefty contract first-round picks and then campaign. q