New York Post, Thursday, December 3, 2020nypost.coming the Yankees’ brief playoff
existence, allowing a run to
the Rays in American
League Division Series
Game 2.
“For me, it wasn’t good
enough. Wasn’t consistent
enough,” Ottavino said. “It
was short. I would’ve liked
to have more time. I think I
finished OK — had 10 strike-
outs and one walk at the end
there [in his final seven out-
ings]. Playoffs, it sucks not to
get a chance. But I’m not the
manager. My job is to make
it undeniable [for the man-
ager to go to him].”
Ottavino’s 3.52 FIP indi-
cates that he didn’t pitch as
poorly as his surface num-
bers show, and half of the 12
runs he allowed came from
one hellacious outing, Sept.
7 in Buffalo against the Blue
Jays (six runs, no outs). “I
have the one game that will
live in infamy for me for-
ever,” Ottavino said.
He has been in touch with
Yankees manager Aaron
Boone and pitching coach
Matt Blake about moving
ahead to 2021.
“I have a good plan look-
ing forward,” he said. “I like
where I’m at.”
He meant that in the literalsense, too. As part of the
Players Alliance’s “Pull Up
Neighbor” initiative, Ottav-
ino helped pass out items of
need to the community
around Coney Island.
“I just think it’s great. It’s
important,” he said. “I’m
glad that they did it. Just
want to support it anyway I
can. I’m a big fan of what
they’re doing. It’s important
to have black people in base-
ball, helping their communi-
ties. All of that. What’s not
to like?”
Looking back on how the
Yankees and Nationals dis-
played their support for so-
cial justice in the season
opener at Nationals Park,
the two squads kneeling en
masse for a minute before
the playing of the national
anthem, Ottavino said, “It
hurt my heart that it was
even a decision. I felt like
there was a lot of pressure
on the team because we
were the first team to play
and trying to figure out what
to do. You waited that long
to play that first game. [We
were] just trying to make
sure we got it right. I still
don’t know if we did or not,
but we were just trying to do
something good.”Helping Hand: Adam Ottavino, working with the Players Alliance, hands out some
essentials — and some baseball gear — in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Bill KostrounSchwarber
becomes
free agent
Staff and wire reportA one-time Yankees target is suddenly
a free agent.
Kyle Schwarber, part of the Cubs’
World Series-winning team in 2016, was
non-tendered Wednesday. Nevertheless,
there is a chance the Cubs could bring
back the 27-year-old left fielder, accord-
ing to NBC Chicago.
The Yankees in 2019 engaged in talks
with the Cubs for the power-hitting left-
handed hitter, who has been on the
team’s radar since 2016.
Schwarber might not be a fit for the
Yankees now as their
left-field situation is
crowded. Clint Fra-
zier, 26, is very likely
to be part of the Yan-
kees’ outfield plan
next season, but it remains to be seen if
the team brings back 37-year-old veteran
Brett Gardner on a short-term deal.
Mike Tauchman, 30, still could be in
the mix but likely would have to battle
for playing time after a rough 2020 sea-
son.
The Cubs also claimed reliever Rob-
ert Stock off waivers from the Red Sox.
Stock appeared in 10 games with Boston
during the pandemic-shortened season,
going 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA.
WHITE SOX: Chicago declined to
offer 2021 contracts to right fielder
Nomar Mazara and pitcher Carlos
Rodón, sending the pair into free
agency.
ATHLETICS: Slugging first baseman
Matt Olson reached agreement on a $5
million guaranteed contract for the 2021
season, avoiding salary arbitration.
The deal includes award bonuses. Ol-
son, 26, batted .195 with 14 home runs
and 42 RBIs playing all 60 games for the
AL West champion A’s in 2020.
TWINS: Minnesota declined to offer
a 2021 contract to Eddie Rosario, its
regular left fielder for the last six sea-
sons. The Twins also decided to non-
tender reliever Matt Wisler. They
reached one-year deals with five of their
arbitration-eligible players, including
José Berríos, Byron Buxton and
Mitch Garver.
ANGELS: Los Angeles acquired vet-
eran shortstop José Iglesias from the
Orioles in a trade for minor league right-
handers Garrett Stallings and Jean
Pinto. Iglesias batted .373 with three ho-
mers and 17 RBIs in 39 games with the
Orioles last season.
ROCKIES: Colorado chose not to of-
fer 2021 contracts to oft-injured out-
fielder David Dahl, catcher Tony Wol-
ters and right-hander Chi Chi Gonza-
lez.
REDS: Cincinnati declined to offer
contracts to four players for the 2021
season, including reliever Archie Brad-
ley, catcher Curt Casali and outfielder
Brian Goodwin.MLB
NOTES
Ottavino hopes he’s
still in Yanks’ plans
By Ken DaviDoffWith Hal Steinbrenner
talking publicly about the
economic beating his 2020
Yankees took, the team very
likely will cut its payroll for
next season.
Adam Ottavino hopes he
doesn’t become a casualty of
such a slash.
“I want to stay on the
team. I want to prove my
worth. I want to pitch well,”
the reliever told The Post on
Wednesday, as he joined the
Players Alliance for an event
in Brooklyn, where he grew
up. “I want to finish what we
tried to start these last few
years and win that title and
all that.
“It’s not up to me. So I
don’t pay attention to any of
that, really.”
There hasn’t been much
“that” for Ottavino to fol-
low besides the realities
of the Yankees’ fiscal
pain, Ottavino’s $9
million salary for
next season and
the right-hander’s
painful 2020. The 35-
year-old posted a 5.89
ERA in 24 games during the
COVID-shortened season
and pitched only once dur-He’ll be back: The
Yankees tendered maligned
catcher Gary Sanchez a
contract Wednesday, giving
the slugger one more chance.
AP; Getty Images