An organization in a position to add a couple of bullpen arms, it’s unsurprising that the New York Yankees are looking into Adam Ottavino.
This offseason has already been a busy one for Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees. Still, they remain in the hunt for arms, specifically of the bullpen variety. Now, it has become slightly more clear who exactly those arms are.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees are interested in right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino. Sherman notes that while the Yanks are almost assuredly going to add a reliever or two this offseason, they’re particularly interested in Ottavino, who demonstrates an uncanny ability to strike hitters out.
Ottavino, 33, has spent the last six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, where most recently, he pitched to an ERA of 2.43 in 77.2 innings, saving six games and finishing 16. He struck out a whopping 112 batters and walking just 36, boasting a WHIP of under 1.00.
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With a career ERA of 3.68, Ottavino, who Sherman aptly observes is a native of New York City, has racked up 464 strikeouts in just 413.0 frames. During the 2018 season, he was ninth among all relievers in strikeouts per nine innings, trailing only some of the most dominant relievers in the game.
Plus, he accomplished this solid season at Coors Field, one of the most hitter friendly stadiums in the history of baseball. Though Yankees Stadium, long considered somewhat broken due to the overly short fence in right field, could also be suboptimal, he still has been quietly effective.
Though it’s unknown just how much interest the Yankees actually have in Ottavino, it’s interesting nonetheless that they’re feeling out the reliever market this early in the offseason.