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Yankees: David Ortiz isn’t going to make us feel bad about the Adam Ottavino trade

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Former designated hitter David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox reacts during a team workout on February 20, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Former designated hitter David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox reacts during a team workout on February 20, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

When the New York Yankees traded Adam Ottavino to the Boston Red Sox, fans were certainly shocked, but nobody filed it under the “unbelievable” category.

Except Sox legend David Ortiz! Somehow!

Fans understood that Ottavino, who was slated to make $9 million in 2021, just wasn’t working out for the bullpen. Does he have electric stuff? Yes. Is he an awesome teammate? Yes. But he simply couldn’t put it all together and endured some confounding issues during his time in New York.

And the Red Sox did the Yankees a favor, though Ortiz doesn’t see it that way.

David Ortiz loves that the Yankees traded Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox.

“I was happy they got Ottavino from the Yankees. I couldn’t believe the Yankees did that,” Ortiz told the Boston Globe. “He can be nasty. We’ll see how the young talent comes around. But they have more talent now.”

Yup, the Sox do have more talent now. But Ottavino will now be tasked with being the top guy in the Sox bullpen. For whatever reason, he couldn’t entirely handle being No. 3 or 4 in New York. Boston giving the Yankees more payroll flexibility by taking on his entire salary was more “unbelievable” than the trade itself.

If you looked at Otto’s performances since the 2019 postseason through the 2020 season, you can see why the Yankees traded him. Instead of keeping him on board, the Yankees got two more reliable arms in Justin Wilson and Darren O’Day, and spent a lot less money.

We’re not sure Ortiz understands how bullpens work, either. You need probably 5-6 guys that are capable of handling medium-to-high-leverage innings. The Sox now have … three (Otto, Matt Barnes and we’ll be generous with Ryan Brasier). But Otto is definitely the most talented, even though Barnes has the closer title.

So no, the Yankees won’t have any second thoughts about this deal, especially since Ottavino will be a free agent after 2021. The Red Sox won’t come close to winning anything this year. No need to fret.

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