Traded from New Y0rk to B0ston

Adam Ottavino's two-year run in pinstripes ended on Monday, when the Yankees and Red Sox completed their first trade in six years.

Easily recognized for wearing Zero on his back, the Brooklyn, New York native signed with his hometown team in the winter of 2019 and turned in five terrific months as a bullpen setup man. But a September slump was a bad sign. And during the 60-game season, he never found his stride, and quickly fell out of Aaron Boone's circle of trust.

As Brian Cashman continues fine tuning his roster -- maybe we need a new term, TV's and FM radios tune digitally now, no one is fiddling with a dial like a safe cracker -- Ottavino's $9 million salary looked like an albatross in the plan to upgrade without going past the luxury tax threshold. 

Finally, the Yankees found a trade partner -- a surprising one. The Yanks shipped off Ottavino to the Red Sox, tossing in another native New Yorker, mid-level pitching prospect Frank German, for salary relief.

While Ottavino and German will have to get used to New England Clam Chowdah, the Yankees now have a bit more wiggle room as they make their last personnel moves of the winter.
 

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