Nathan Eovaldi was a huge part of the Boston Red Sox in the latter half of the 2018 MLB season. He was also a key piece of their run to a World Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was an impressive run for him in Boston and the two sides would like to figure out a way to continue working together.

As free agency begins to heat up across Major League Baseball, the Red Sox and Eovaldi have been in close contact.

According to a report from Robert Murray of The Athletic, talks are beginning to intensify between the Red Sox and Eovaldi. No agreement has been made, but the two sides appear to be close to getting something done.

Eovaldi ended up pitching in 12 games after being traded to the Red Sox. He went 3-3 in those games and had a 3.33 ERA. Before the trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the 28-year-old pitcher had a 3-4 record and a 4.26 ERA.

Looking closer at his performance in the postseason, Eovaldi took his game to a new level. He pitched in six games, only starting in two of those appearances. Eovaldi ended the postseason with a 1.61 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched and had a 2-1 record.

Boston cannot afford to let Eovaldi walk. He was a perfect fit in their rotation alongside Chris Sale and David Price. Having a three-headed monster on the mound made them a nearly impossible team to beat in a seven-game series with the kind of offensive production that they received.

Expect to hear more news about Eovaldi in the near future. It sounds like the Red Sox are going to be able to keep him around, but another team could try to swoop in at the last minute to steal him away.