Nathan Eovaldi was a free agent in 2017 and was not offered a contract by the Yankees. The Rays eventually gave Eovaldi a one-year, $2 million deal with a club option for the 2018 season, which the club picked up.
The 28-year-old right-hander suffered his first elbow injury while still a junior in high school and underwent Tommy John surgery at that time. Originally drafted by the Dodgers after his senior year of high school, Eovaldi has also played for the Miami Marlins as well as the Yanks.
On December 19, 2014, the Marlins traded Eovaldi, Garrett Jones, and Domingo German to the Yankees for Martin Prado and David Phelps.