Yankees’ Nathan Eovaldi out for entire 2017 season

Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will miss the entire 2017 season due to two elbow surgeries, according to multiple reports. Eovaldi will undergo procedures to repair both a torn flexor tendon and a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Eovaldi, 26, exited a recent start after just one inning due to elbow trouble, but his prognosis was not known until today. His loss is a significant one for a Yankees’ team looking to return to contention in 2017.

Eovaldi is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility, and is surely now a non-tender candidate as the Yankees look to make some additions in free agency this winter. The righty will be an interesting case in free agency after next year, and will likely sign an incentive-laden contract with a team looking for a lottery ticket.

Eovaldi has struggled to a 4.76 ERA in 124.2 innings for the Yankees this season, and drew interest from multiple teams, including the Pirates, before last month’s non-waiver trade deadline. His medical issues may have dissuaded teams from strongly pursuing him as the Yankees looked to sell off key assets like Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova.