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MLB Off-Season Trade Recap: Notable CCBL Alumni

Adam Ottavino - Harwich ('05) SportsPix Photo
04/01/2021 3:48 AM

Article By: Ethan Kagno




Adam Ottavino (2005 Harwich Mariners) New York Yankees → Boston Red Sox

In a rare, Yankees-Red Sox inter-division trade (the first since 2014; Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson), Boston received veteran reliever, Adam Ottavino and prospect Frank German in exchange for cash considerations or a “player to be named later” (oftenly referred to as PTBNL).

Ottavino got his start in 2005 with the Harwich Mariners where he went 2-2 with a 1.76 earned-run average in 51 innings pitched, and never allowed a home run. After being selected in the first round (30th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 MLB Draft, Ottavino then played for the Colorado Rockies, and most recently the New York Yankees before getting traded to their AL East rival.

Ottavino joins a Red Sox pitching staff that severely struggled last season as they ranked 28th in ERA (5.58), and ranked dead last in home runs allowed (98), walks (252), opponent batting average (.281), and WHIP (1.60). With the acquisition of Ottavino in the bullpen, the Red Sox will look to improve on their forgetful 2020 season.

Austin Gomber (2013 Bourne Braves) St. Louis Cardinals → Colorado Rockies

Perhaps the biggest blockbuster deal to happen this past winter was the Nolan Arenado trade. One of the best players at the hot corner, Arenado was sent from Colorado to St. Louis as well as cash considerations in exchange for infielders Elehuris Montero, and Mateo Hill, right-handed pitchers Tony Locey and Jake Sommers, and former Bourne Brave, Austin Gomber.

The big lefty appeared in seven games during the 2013 CCBL season. He went 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA through 29 innings of work and struck out 14. His best display was on June 22nd that year, where he threw five no-hit innings along with five strikeouts in Bourne’s 8-0 defeat of Cotuit.

After trading away their best player, the Rockies will look to spend their money elsewhere, perhaps on Trevor Story (in his contract year) who has earned high praise around the league for his five-tool ability and will look to cash in on a new deal for next season. Regardless, the package Colorado got in return for the MVP-caliber third-baseman is a solid one as the Rockies may be forced to rebuild in the coming years.

 


Cole Wilcox (2019 Orleans Firebirds) San Diego Padres → Tampa Bay Rays

This past December, the Padres made a variety of moves to help piece together their dynamic 2021 roster. One of the first acquisitions included former Cy Young award pitcher, Blake Snell, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays. Snell will help make up one of the best pitching rotations in the league with Yu Darvish (who was acquired the same week), Dinelson Lamet, Joe Musgrove, and Chris Paddack.

One of the key pieces headed to Tampa Bay in this trade was 2020 first rounder, Cole Wilcox who played for the Orleans Firebirds in 2019. Wilcox has a big 6’5” frame and has a great fastball that sits in the mid 90s and occasionally can reach triple digits. The Rays have been known to develop and produce great pitching talents over the years such as David Price, Scott Kazmir, Matt Moore, Jeremy Hellickson, Jake Odorizzi, Chris Archer, and the aforementioned Blake Snell, to name a handful.

In addition, the Rays also received prospects Luis Patino, Blake Hunt, and MLB-ready catcher, Francisco Mejia. Although Snell is currently one of the game’s best starters, there’s no denying the Rays got a nice haul in return for the homegrown southpaw.