Adam Ottavino Signs 1-Year Deal With Mets

The 38-year-old reliever is staying in Queens for another year.

The New York Mets are bringing back one of their primary bullpen arms.

On Saturday, Joel Sherman reported that relief pitcher Adam Ottavino has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract to remain a Met. The deal is currently pending a physical.

Adam Ottavino and the Mets are in agreement on a 1-yr, $4.5M contract pending physical.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 27, 2024

This is a rather surprising turn of events due to Ottavino's decision to decline his player option on his previous contract. The player option would have given him $6.75 million.

With this new deal with the Mets, the 38-year-old reliever is making over $2 million less.

Nonetheless, the Mets are maintaining stability in their bullpen by bringing Ottavino back. In 2022, he made 66 appearances and was effective as both a fireman and a setup man; he recorded an impressive 2.06 ERA and a 188 ERA+, while striking out 79 batters against 16 walks. He ultimately compiled a 6-3 record with three saves.

2023 saw Ottavino regress in most categories. He again appeared in 66 games, but his ERA rose to 3.21 and his FIP ballooned to 4.52 (as opposed to the 2.85 mark in 2022); he struck out 62 while walking 29, and his record sharply declined to 1-7. However, Ottavino's ERA+ remained a solid 132 (one point above his career average), and he set a new career-high with 12 saves.

For the most part, Ottavino has been effective in a Mets uniform, and bringing him back on a cheaper deal can allow the team to improve in another area. The Mets now hope that the 13-year veteran can continue to be a reliable asset in high-leverage scenarios.