There’s no way around it: the Yankees sending savior Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox, their archivist, is a payroll.
For the Yankees, the usefulness of trade is clear. They open a space on the list of 40 people and unload about $ 8 million in salary in a year in which they are clearly trying to stay below the tax threshold with a competitive balance of $ 210 million. With Ottavino’s salary on the books in 2021, the Yankees are still shy about the $ 4 million tax threshold, according to the Associated Press. He could use a clumsy bat and maybe Brett Gardner, a light and familiar presence, is to be re-signed for a reunion. Maybe I’m using that money to add another stable piece to the starting rotation. Maybe I’ll use it to buy a diaper to replace Ottavino.
Overall, the trade seems quite inappropriate. The Yankees receive “a player to be named later or cash considerations” from the Red Sox as they send Ottavino and right-handers …