Ever since the New York Yankees decided to trade Adam Ottavino to Boston, several “baseball” persons have praised the Red Sox’s decision to bring the talented reliever into the fold.
It’s clear that the Red Sox and the Yankees are in different stages in the competitive cycle. The Bombers are in win-now mode and needed some payroll flexibility to bring some safer pitchers, while Boston had some money to use, and not only can benefit from acquiting a talented pitcher, but also got prospect Frank German out of the deal.
Red Sox legend David Ortiz talked to the Boston Globe about Ottavino, and confessed he is very excited to see him in Boston.
“I was happy they got [Adam] Ottavino from the Yankees. I couldn’t believe the Yankees did that. He can be nasty. We’ll see how the young talent comes around. But they have more talent now.â€
Ottavino’s 2020 ERA was ugly, at 5.89. However, the Yankees know that he can be, in fact, dominant. Despite the high ERA, he had a much more decent 3.52 FIP and struck out 29.4% of the batters he faced.
The Yankees have reinvested the money
In the last two postseason, control and command issues have plagued Ottavino, and the Yankees wanted to reinvest the $9 million he was owed in 2021 in safer pitchers. So far, they brought Darren O’Day and are about to close Justin Wilson’s signing.
Ottavino knows the Boston area, as he went to college at Northeastern, which is a short, 15-minute walk from Fenway Park.
“I’m very excited,†Ottavino had said about the trade, per MLB.com. “I was a little surprised when I got the news, but all things considered, Boston is always a place I wanted to play. I went to school there, feel really comfortable in Fenway and all that good stuff. I’m really excited to bring what I bring. Hopefully I can do my thing out of the bullpen and help us win some ballgames.â€