Adam Ottavino thrust into big Red Sox role after Yankees trade

Yankees castoff Adam Ottavino is likely to open the season as the new closer of the Red Sox due to the team’s COVID-19 situation.

Projected closer Matt Barnes tested positive for the coronavirus late last week and will need to be isolated from the team for a minimum of 10 days through at least April 5.

Ottavino, who was dealt to Boston in January in a salary-shedding move by the Yankees, hasn’t allowed an earned run in 6 1/3 innings over six spring-training appearances. He is entering the final year of the three-year, $27 million deal he signed with the Yankees in 2019.

The 35-year-old Brooklyn product fell out of favor in Aaron Boone’s bullpen last season with a 5.89 ERA and a 1.582 WHIP over 24 relief appearances. Ottavino, who has registered 19 career saves, also pitched just 2/3 of an inning during the playoffs against Cleveland and Tampa Bay last season.

Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, a 19-game winner in 2019, missed the entire COVID-shortened season last year because of a heart condition after testing positive for the virus.