Red Sox Sign Adam Ottavino, Reinforcing Bullpen for 2024

BOSTON, Mass. — The Boston Red Sox have reportedly signed pitcher Adam Ottavino, reinforcing their bullpen for the upcoming 2024 Major League Baseball season. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow emphasized the need for additional depth in the bullpen, leading the team to take a chance on the familiar right-hander.

According to multiple reports, including the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the contract includes an invitation for Ottavino to join the team for spring training in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox held their first full-squad workout on Monday.

Ottavino previously pitched for the Red Sox during the 2021 season, appearing in 69 games and recording 20 earned runs on 55 hits over 62 innings. He then joined the New York Mets, where he spent the last three seasons, culminating in a standout 2022 campaign marked by a 188 Earned Run Average Plus (ERA+), the second-best rating of his career.

In 2024, the 39-year-old pitcher demonstrated a more average performance, appearing in 60 games and posting a 4.34 ERA, with 70 strikeouts in 56 innings. This marked the first season in which Ottavino did not produce any positive wins above replacement (WAR), finishing at 0.0, according to Baseball Reference.

However, despite his mixed performance statistics, the Red Sox coaching staff, including Breslow and pitching coach Andrew Bailey, recognized potential in Ottavino’s abilities. His expected batting average against in 2024 ranked in the 92nd percentile, and he registered a strikeout percentage in the 86th percentile, indicating his capability to induce weak contact.

If Ottavino can regain his previous form, he might serve as a valuable middle-relief option, complementing established pitchers like Liam Hendriks, Aroldis Chapman, and Garrett Whitlock as the Red Sox prepare for the upcoming season.