Mets Rumors: Adam Ottavino Agrees to 1-Year, $4.5M Contract in MLB Free Agency

Adam Ottavino has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the New York Mets, per The New York Post's Joel Sherman.

The deal to bring the 38-year-old Ottavino back is pending his physical, according to Sherman.

Ottavino, a 13-year veteran, has spent the last two campaigns with the Mets. Last season, the right-handed reliever pitched in 66 games, notching 12 saves behind 62 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.

Ottavino has spent his 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but has posted some of his best seasons in his two years with the Mets.

In 2022, he recorded a 2.06 ERA in 66 appearances, helping the Mets reach the postseason for the first time since 2016. This year, he'll look to help New York return to the postseason after missing in 2023.

Just a few months ago, following the end of the season, Ottavino declined a $6.75 million player option for 2024, making him a free agent heading into the offseason. His reasoning revolved around the Mets' firing of manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler's resignation, per The Athletic's Tim Britton.

"After the trade deadline, I had to see what they were going to do here," Ottavino said. "They end up firing Buck and then eventually Billy is gone as well, and so then at that point, there was just a lot of uncertainty. The goal was to be here for a long time, and those were the people I was fostering a partnership with, and they were all gone."

Ultimately, Ottavino decided to stay in New York, giving the Mets some bullpen insurance for the 2024 season.