Two weeks into the 2025 season, the Boston Red Sox have had some good and some bad. The Red Sox have gotten off to a .500 start entering this weekend’s series with the Chicago White Sox. But they also dropped three of four games in a home series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Garrett Crochet has been incredible at the top, but the rest of the rotation has struggled posting a 3-6 record and a 4.01 ERA.
Most of the Red Sox struggles are things that can be sorted out and they’ve pulled the right levers when constructing their roster. One key decision involved a pitcher who the Red Sox released in Spring Training and is now looking for his third team since the start of the season.
Former Red Sox Reliever Adam Ottavino Released for Third Time This Season
The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that reliever Adam Ottavino has elected free agency in lieu of a minor league assignment. Ottavino had signed with the Yankees on April 1 before he was designated for assignment two days later and re-signed with the team this past Sunday before getting DFA’d again on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old’s current situation has been a whirlwind but he explained the decision was made as fellow Yankees reliever Devin Williams was on the paternity list and New York needed another bullpen arm.
“Yeah, well, Devin Williams was on paternity list,” Ottavino told Foul Territory’s A.J. Pierzynski this week. “That only lasts three days, so I know he was coming back, so the clock was ticking. Obviously, something could happen there. Somebody could get hurt or underperform and they could change their mind and keep you around, but at the same time, I kind of knew that it was going to be a short stay, more than likely.”
Adam Ottavino, who was just designated for assignment for the second time in five days, opens up about the experience.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 9, 2025
"I knew he [Devin Williams] was coming back, so the clock was ticking." pic.twitter.com/Yc5JxDs3hm
Ottavino added that the Yankees were up front about the situation, but it’s a comical turn for a pitcher that has been DFA’d three times to start the year. The right-hander initially started the season with the Red Sox but allowed six earned runs in five innings before he was designated for assignment and elected free agency last month. He fared better in his two tours with the Yankees, allowing no runs but four walks in 1.2 innings but is once again looking for a job as he refuses to accept a minor league assignment.
“It’s a unique situation,” Ottavino told Pierzynski. “I’m not going to sign a minor league deal so you’re going to bring me to the big league team, whether it’s on a 45-day consent or whatever, or you’re not. This is a ticking situation for me. I don’t need to play. I certainly want to play. I think I’m capable of playing and doing a great job, but I’m not going to wait around forever. That’s just the reality of it.”
It will be interesting to see where the veteran lands for his third opportunity in 2025. But wherever he goes, it appears the Red Sox made the right choice as they move forward with what they have.