There is no way to fix it: the Yankees sending reliever Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox, his rival, are a paycheck.
For the Yankees, the usefulness of trade is clear. They open a space on the 40-man list and unload about $ 8 million in salary in a year in which they are clearly trying to stay below the $ 210 million competitive balance tax threshold. With Ottavino’s salary for 2021 off the books, the Yankees continue to shy away from the tax threshold of about $ 4 million, according to the Associated Press. They could use a left-handed bat, and perhaps Brett Gardner, an easy, familiar presence, will be next in line to re-sign for a reunion. Maybe they use that money to add another stable piece to the initial rotation. Maybe they use it to acquire a reliever to replace Ottavino.
All in all, the trade seems pretty uneven. The Yankees receive “a player who will be named later or cash considerations” from the Red Sox as they send Ottavino and the right-handers …