The Red Sox added right-handed pitcher Adam Ottavino to their roster on Monday in a trade with the Yankees. The deal also includes righty Frank German coming to Boston, while the Yankees will receive a player in exchange for cash considerations.
On Monday, the Sox acquired righty Adam Ottavino from the Yankees. Boston will also receive righty Frank German in the deal. Boston will send a player as cash considerations for the two pitchers to the Yankees.
Regarding the finances, the Yankees will cover $850,000 of Ottavino's $8 million 2021 salary, meaning Boston is responsible for $7.15 million. Ottavino spent most of his time with the Yankees as a setup pitcher, and the big question now is whether Boston will give him a shot at closing games.
Bringing Ottavino on board is the latest in a series of aggressive moves by Red Sox baseball chief Chaim Bloom. Over the last few days, Bloom secured super-utility player Enrique Hernández with a two-year, $14 million contract on Friday and reached an agreement with right-handed starter Garrett Richards on Saturday for a one-year, $10 million deal that includes a 2022 club option.
Despite Sam Kennedy's recent remarks to the Boston Globe suggesting the team wasn't going 'all-out' like they did before winning the 2018 World Series, this recent spending spree suggests that Bloom is determined to field a competitive team in 2021.
Even with these additions, the Red Sox likely still need help in the outfield, especially since they are currently without their longtime defensive specialist and center fielder, Jackie Bradley Jr.
Ottavino was stellar for the Yankees in 2019, posting a 1.90 ERA over 73 games, but he struggled during the shortened 2020 pandemic season, where his ERA jumped to 5.89 across 24 outings. However, that number is misleading due to one disastrous appearance against the Blue Jays in Buffalo on September 7, where he gave up six runs without recording a single out. Without that one bad game, his ERA would have been a much more respectable 2.95.
The 35-year-old has local ties, having played college ball at Northeastern University, located just a stone's throw from Fenway Park. Originally a first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2006, he spent years in the St. Louis organization but only appeared in two MLB games before being claimed off waivers by the Rockies in 2012.
round decision of the Cardinals in 2006, Ottavino stayed in the St. Louis system for an extremely lengthy timespan, contributing just two MLB games. He was ensured off waivers by the Rockies in 2012.