Why did the Yankees trade Adam Ottavino to Red Sox? Luxury tax concerns at forefront of deal

In 2021, something is feasible — together with a commerce between bitter rivals.

The Athletic’s Lindsay Adler stories that Yankees pitcher Adam Ottavino is transport as much as Boston in a commerce to the Purple Sox. The New York Put up’s Joel Sherman stories that Ottavino and prospect Frank German are heading to Boston, with the Purple Sox taking over Ottavino’s contract.

This marks the primary time the AL East rivals have struck a deal since 2014, when the Yankees despatched utilityman Kelly Johnson to Boston in alternate for shortstop Stephen Drew, very clearly a blockbuster deal (not likely).

The Yankees, who signed Ottavino to a three-year, $27 million deal earlier than the 2019 season, acquired combined returns from the reliever, resulting in the eventual ousting 

This is what we all know in regards to the deal:

Why did the Yankees commerce Adam Ottavino?

The commerce looks as if a pure cash transfer from New York’s perspective: The Yankees need to keep underneath the luxurious tax, and the commerce saves about $9 million towards that comfortable cap threshold ($210 million).

The deal additionally opens up a 40-man roster spot for the Yankees, which is required so as to add one in all DJ LeMahieu or Corey Kluber to the roster.

Armed with an array of signature devastating sliders at varied depths and angles, Ottavino had an excellent debut season with the Yankees in 2019 (1.90 ERA/three.44 FIP throughout 66 1/three innings pitched) however got here crashing again all the way down to earth in 2020, the pandemic-shortened season, throwing to a 5.89 ERA over 18 1/three innings. Ottavino got here off a profession yr in 2018, however points with strolling batters plumped his WHIP to a 1.370 mark between each seasons with the Yanks.

The Yankees’ mistrust in Ottavino led to supervisor Aaron Boone avoiding utilizing him out of the bullpen through the 2020 playoffs, permitting him simply two-thirds of an inning pitched within the ALDS vs. the Rays. 

Per Sherman, the Yankees are additionally sending beginning pitcher Frank German to the Purple Sox as a “sweetener” within the deal. German, 23, is the Yankees’ 24th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline and final pitched in Excessive A for the Tampa Tarpons.

If Ottavino can discover a few of his former self with Boston, then he may discover himself pitching late in video games in 2021. The Purple Sox have a better-than-advertised bullpen, however may actually use a pitcher of Ottavino’s caliber on the again finish — ought to he return to type.