By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Among the Philadelphia Phillies' top interests this Winter Meetings, and the overall offseason, is to sure-up their back-end of the bullpen to complement RHP Seranthony Dominguez.
The Phillies attempted to acquire All-Star closer Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners in the Jean Segura trade, but lost out to New York Mets, who were afraid general manager Matt Klentak and company had an imminent deal.
And while the club has also considered top southpaw relief arms Andrew Miller and Zach Britton this offseason, they also reportedly eyed a member of the 2018 World Series champion Boston Red Sox to fill their need in the bullpen. The only caveat? The player was not a reliever, but rather a starting pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi, according to The Athletic's Jayson Stark.
The Phillies may have eyed to sign the seven-year veteran as their next closer, however Eovaldi made it clear on Monday that he wanted to remain in the starting rotation.
The club was considered among nine "early suitors" for Eovaldi on Nov. 18, however it scouted the right-hander prior to the July 2018 non-waiver trade deadline. Despite the Phillies and other team's interest, Eovaldi ultimately wanted to stay in Boston.
Eovaldi, 28, appeared in three games this past World Series, all in relief. The right-hander surrendered only three hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk, while punching out six of his 28 batters faced spanning eight innings. The Houston, Texas, native's new four-year, $68 million contract with the Red Sox was announced on Monday at the Winter Meetings press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eovaldi has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, with the most recent causing him to miss the entire 2017 season.
