Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets continue to make moves this offseason to improve the team, this time bringing back a key member of the 2022 team for its bullpen.
According to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal, the have agreed to a deal with Adam Ottavino. The deal is for two years, and Ottavino has a player option for the second year. The Post‘s Joel Sherman reports the deal is for $14.5 million total, and ESPN‘s Jeff Passan says Ottavino can earn up to $1 million in bonuses each year of the deal.
The 37-year-old reliever originally signed a one-year deal with the Mets ahead of the 2022 season. He became the primary setup man for Edwin Diaz, tossing a total of 65.2 innings. He allowed just 15 earned runs all year (2.06 ERA), and he struck out over 30% of the batters he faced—largely behind his wicked slider.
Ottavino adds much-needed top-end depth for a Mets bullpen that is now headlined by Díaz, Ottavino and David Robertson. The Mets have also been in contact with the White Sox with Liam Hendriks, one of the top relievers of the last half-decade.
After the team’s 2022 pitching staff largely left opted ofr free agency, the team has brought back Díaz and Ottavino, signed Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, Robertson, and Jose Quintana, and traded for Brooks Raley, among other moves, as they try to re-create the 101-win magic from last season.
