Yankees: 3 Adam Ottavino trades that would help NYY shed salary

Up until the 2019 postseason, Adam Ottavino was a major asset for the New York Yankees. He was unhittable and a crucial part of the bridge to Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman. However, after getting wrecked in postseason play, it was all downhill from there.

Not only was his 2020 season uninspiring — yes, we could remove his one disastrous outing and it looks a lot better, but there was still something off in regards to his strikeouts and location — but manager Aaron Boone used him ONCE in the five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Is that worth $9 million? Not really.

We’d love nothing more than a bounce-back campaign from Otto, but we may not get to see that in New York based on the latest industry buzz. Ottavino could be a payroll casualty as the Yankees look to add more pitching pieces and possibly bring back Brett Gardner. However, if any deal were to go down, New York likely has to eat some salary.

In terms of trade destinations, here are the best ones for Ottavino if this is something the Yankees are exploring at the moment.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies need bullpen help and taking a flier on Ottavino could be smart.

Dave Dombrowski is now trying to salvage the situation in Philadelphia and he’s already added to the bullpen by signing Archie Bradley and trading for Jose Alvarado. Well, there’s a lot more work to be done with the league’s worst relief corps. So why not ask the Yankees to pay for a portion of Otto’s salary and give him a shot in 2021?

It wouldn’t be the worst idea. Any upgrade is beneficial for the Phillies, and this would likely only cost them money because the Yankees don’t have any leverage to get an impact player in return. Plus, general manager Brian Cashman knows he probably has to take on $3 million in almost any trade, so if the Phillies are looking for $6 million for Ottavino, that feels like a slam dunk. That’s what they’re paying for Bradley.

Ottavino, Bradley and Alvarado in the back end of the bullpen is certainly a start, and eons better than anything that was on the field in 2020. The Phillies are a trade partner Cashman needs to get into contact with because of their situation and a clear indication that Dombrowski is ready to be aggressive to ensure Bryce Harper’s prime isn’t wasted.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are reconstructing their bullpen and they might like Ottavino.

Now, if the Yankees want to absorb the smallest portion possible of Ottavino’s $9 million salary for 2020, it’s probably in Cashman’s best interest to call the Los Angeles Dodgers. Perhaps the best scenario here is the Yankees take on $1 million and acquire lefty reliever Scott Alexander in return, who’s projected to make $1.2 million in arbitration.

The Dodgers are pressed up against the luxury tax threshold, but guess what? If they’re retaining Turner, they’re going over it. They’re already at $200 million with a few cases heading to arbitration, and we don’t think they’ll win their battle against Walker Buehler, which will cost them almost another $1 million. They might just have to go over.

So if you’re going to exceed it, why not use the analytically-driven front office and coaching staff to fix Ottavino and make him a deadly weapon in the middle innings? You’re telling me manager Dave Roberts won’t be able to deploy him in favorable spots to make him effective and rebuild his confidence?

The Dodgers run a bullpen by committee anyway. Nobody has a concrete role, which could greatly benefit the right-hander, who clearly has trouble handling pressure to a certain extent. And when you factor in Otto’s spin rate, FIP and xERA — all of which are solid despite his horrific ERA, WHIP and strikeout numbers from 2020 — it could be a good sell.

Three NL teams that still need varying degrees of bullpen help. It’s not out of the question.

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