Adam Ottavino, who has spent nearly his entire MLB career in the Colorado Rockies' bullpen, has reportedly signed a 3-year, $27 million contract with the New York Yankees.
Ottavino, 33, is coming off the best season of his career. In 2018, Ottavino fanned 112 batters in only 77.2 innings pitched and cut his ERA by more than half (5.06 to 2.43) for the NL Wild Card champions. His Rockies' teammate D.J. LeMahieu signed with the Yankees last week.
Ottavino is expected to take on the role filled by David Robertson who has flown south to the Phillies. I don't think Ottavino will have a problem dealing with the extra scrutiny as he was born and raised in Brooklyn. Ottavino has no shortage of confidence as demonstrated last month when he claimed he would strike out Babe Ruth every time. But it is a lot to expect Ottavino to maintain last year's pace of 13 strikeout per 9 innings. If he falls short, Yankees fans could turn on him in an instant including his own family.
Then again, even if Ottavino falters someone like Chad Green could fill that role to accompany the triumvirate of Aroldis Chapman, Zach Britton and Dellin Bettances. The Yankees bullpen is pretty deep, Ottavino or no Ottavino.
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