The New York Yankees made some under-the-radar moves on Friday morning, ones that don’t often make headlines but reveal a lot about how the team is managing its roster depth early in the season.
One of these moves involved parting ways, at least temporarily, with a familiar veteran arm. The Yankees officially designated 39-year-old right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino for assignment, just days after signing him to a major league deal.
Ottavino had pitched 1.1 scoreless innings during his brief stint with the Yankees, showing decent command and composure. While he looked sharp in his limited action, his role was always intended as a temporary fix. He was brought in primarily to fill in for closer Devin Williams, who had been briefly away on paternity leave. Despite being 39, Ottavino’s stuff hasn’t completely faded, and if bullpen attrition comes into play later in the season, he could very well return to New York.
With Williams officially back, the Yankees are resetting their bullpen blueprint. Although Williams didn’t have the smoothest start to his season, surrendering two hits and an earned run in a shaky inning against the Brewers, the Yankees still view him as one of the best closers in the game. His air-bending changeup and elite strikeout rates have made him a dominant force, and New York sees him as a crucial piece of their 2025 bullpen, especially with their rotation still in flux and needing reliable high-leverage innings.
Now that Ottavino is out of the picture, the Yankees’ bullpen can return to its regular rhythm. However, if injuries or struggles affect other pitchers, Ottavino could find himself back in the mix. For a veteran reliever like him, it’s all part of the job—always on standby, one phone call away.
