Adam Ottavino re-signs with Mets after initially rejecting player option
The Mets will turn to a familiar face to try and bolster their bullpen.
Adam Ottavino has agreed to return to the Mets for a third season on a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to a report by the New York Post's Joel Sherman. Earlier in the offseason, the 38-year-old right-hander turned down his $6.75 million player option to remain with the team.
Ottavino's player option included $4 million to be deferred between 2032 and 2035.
Last season, Ottavino posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 61.2 innings while striking out 62 batters. Despite a 1-7 record, Ottavino also posted 12 saves in Diaz's absence and following the trade of David Robertson at the trade deadline.
After more than two months in free agency, Ottavino will now return to New York. He'll join a back end of the Mets' bullpen which will be bolstered by Edwin Diaz's return as closer, along with Brooks Raley, who had his $6.5 million club option picked up in early November.
The Mets also return Drew Smith on a $2.2 million deal in his final season before free agency and added Jorge Lopez and Michael Tonkin on one-year deals.
In his two seasons with the Mets, the right-hander has posted a 2.62 ERA and 1.09 ERA. He led all of the Mets' full-time relievers in innings pitched in each of the last two seasons.
Last season, Ottavino saw his strikeout rate drop to 23.8 percent and walk rate tick up to 11.1 percent, but he was in the top 10 percent in Major League Baseball in opposing batter's barrel percentage (3.7 percent) and ground-ball rate (56.2).
The bullpen was a major weakness for the Mets during the 2023 season, with the unit ranking 20th in WHIP, 22nd in ERA and 23rd in walks per nine innings.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Adam Ottavino to re-sign one-year deal after declining option
