Adam Ottavino has returned to the Red Sox, but his path back to Boston this time was much different than his previous stint.
Ahead of the 2021 season, the Red Sox actively pursued Ottavino, acquiring him in a rare trade with their division rival, the New York Yankees. That move helped bolster a team that made a deep run to the American League Championship Series.
Four years later, Ottavino is rejoining Boston under different circumstances—signing a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. While it’s not the ideal situation for a veteran reliever, the 39-year-old still saw value in returning to the Red Sox. In fact, he turned down a major league offer from another team to reunite with Alex Cora’s staff.
“I had been in talks with Boston for quite a while this offseason, so it was a long process,” Ottavino told reporters Tuesday, per MLB.com. “Once I was open to a non-roster invite, I got a lot of offers quickly. I had one MLB offer, but I didn’t want to take it in that location. So I kept doing my research, talking to teams, and made my decision last night.”
Although Ottavino doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot, he now has the chance to earn a role during spring training. Given his ability to generate weak contact, the veteran right-hander shouldn’t be overlooked as a strong candidate for the Opening Day roster.
Boston may not have to wait long to see Ottavino in action, as the Red Sox begin their spring training schedule on Saturday.