Report: Nathan Eovaldi will be Red Sox closer when he returns from injury

The Boston Red Sox are thinking outside the box to work Nathan Eovaldi back into the mix.

Tom Caron of NESN reported on Monday that the right-hander will close for the team once he returns from the injured list. Caron also says that Eovaldi will be a traditional closer and not part of a bullpen-by-committee.

The 29-year-old Eovaldi has been out since April with a pitching elbow injury but should hopefully be back after the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Red Sox bullpen has been unspectacular this season (4.37 ERA as a unit, per ESPN), and they have largely gone with a timeshare in the ninth inning.

Eovaldi, a starter for his entire career, had a successful cameo as a reliever in last year’s World Series and may be a solution for the underachieving Red Sox in his new role.