Red Sox Truly Admitting Defeat by Contemplating Moving Nathan Eovaldi to Closer

Everyone thought the Boston Red Sox slow start was merely due to a World Series hangover. Hey, it happens to everyone, right?

However, this hangover has lasted way too long and Boston currently sits 11 games back of the Yankees in first place. Manager Alex Cora pushed all the right buttons last year, but this season he's trying to find the remedy to break his team out of their losing ways.

One move that may or may not work is moving Nathan Eovaldi to the role of closer once he returns from the IL, but is it really the best move?

According to sources, the Red Sox plan on using Nathan Eovaldi as their closer when he returns from the Injured List. https://t.co/cxrS0ZErV0
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) July 2, 2019

Boston is coming off a horrendous two-game series over in London, where its bullpen gave up 22 runs in 12 2/3 innings of work against the Yankees. The Sox bullpen has been their weakest link so far this season and it didn't get any better across the pond.

Now the hope in Boston is that Eovaldi can somehow save the season by moving to the closer role. Will this really make the difference?

⚾ The Red Sox bullpen needs a lot of help, but making Nathan Eovaldi the closer? @jtomase calls it a panic move that seems headed for one conclusion: disaster. ? https://t.co/hnf612TD8d pic.twitter.com/0pe1gVDpKf
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 2, 2019

Last season, he made four postseason relief appearances and tossed 9 1/3 innings while giving up one run. There's no doubt his strong performance out of the 'pen last year helped the Sox win the World Series.

Even though Eovaldi pitched great out of the bullpen in the playoffs last year, history has not repeated itself yet with the Red Sox this season. The move seems like a push of the panic button and it seems they just have no clue how to cure their losing this spring and summer.