Nathan Eovaldi is pumped up after recording an out in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox. (Photo : Getty Images/Jim McIsaac)
The Chicago Cubs are the best team in the MLB after the first two months of the 2016 season but they are still looking for ways to improve their team. According to the latest rumors, the Cubs are in an early discussion with the New York Yankees to acquire right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.
The Cubs currently has a record of 35-15 and they are the favorites to win the 2016 World Series. The franchise has not won the World Series for 108 years and many attribute it to the Curse of the Billy Goat.
The arrival of Theo Epstein, the former Red Sox manager that helped Boston end their 85-year championship drought, has changed the attitude of the North Siders. He is helped by manager Joe Maddon and they have turned the Cubs into one of the best teams in baseball.
However, the Cubs are still looking for ways to improve their team and they are targeting Eovaldi from the Yankees. It is still too early to know the details or to confirm the rumor but the discussions are in early stages, Julia DiCaro of 670 The Score.
Source says one of the pitchers the #Cubs are focusing on for possible deal is #Yankees SP Nathan Eovaldi. Nothing imminent.
— Julie DiCaro (@JulieDiCaro) May 29, 2016
According to the NJ Advance Media Group, the 26-year-old right-handed starter will be part of many trade rumors before the deadline. He's has improved after arriving in New York last season but the Yankees may look to trade him due to his value at the moment.
In 10 starts this season, Eovaldi has a record of 6-2 with solid 3.71 ERA with 57 strikeouts. His fastball averages 96.9 mph but he already had Tommy John surgery and his elbow was inflamed to end last season.
The Texas native is also set to become a free agent in 2018 and it makes sense for the Yankees to trade him to acquire some prospects. They are not playoff contenders and their priority will be stocking up young players for the future.
On the hand, the Cubs can never have too much pitching on their roster. They have also been linked with Yankees left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, FanSided reported. The Yankees will be sellers as they continue to improve their farm system while the Cubs are looking for every opportunity to improve their team.
Check out the video below for some of Eovaldi's highlights from the 2015 MLB season.
