Yankees Trade Reliever Adam Ottavino to Red Sox in Rare Rivals Trade

In a rare trade between the rivals, the Yankees have sent reliever Adam Ottavino and prospect Frank German to the Red Sox.

In a rare trade between rivals, the Yankees have sent reliever Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox, the clubs announced on Monday.

Pitching prospect Frank German and cash considerations will also go to Boston in the deal, while New York will receive a player to be named later or cash considerations in exchange. German is ranked as New York's No. 24 prospect by MLB.com, and ESPN's Buster Olney reports Boston reportedly will receive $850,000 in the deal.

The trade comes after the Yankees reportedly were looking to give themselves luxury tax threshold room and move Ottavino's $9 million luxury tax for 2021.

Ottavino, 35, has spent the last two seasons with the Yankees. Although he has a 3.53 career ERA, he struggled last year, posting a 5.89 ERA in 24 games and making only one postseason appearance.

According to MLB.com, the last trade between the Red Sox and Yankees occurred at the 2014 trade deadline, when New York sent Kelly Johnson to Boston in exchange for Stephen Drew. The deal marked the first trade between the rivals since 1997.

Ottavino's trade follows a busy weekend for New York, which acquired starting pitcher Jameson Taillon in a swap with the Pirates on Sunday. Taillon did not pitch in 2020 after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, however, he is expected back this season. The former No. 2 overall pick of the Pirates in 2010, is due $2.25 million in 2021 and cannot be a free agent until after the 2022 campaign.