Adam Ottavino to Re-Sign with Mets: What to Make of Move

With Spring Training around the corner, veterans are now starting to find homes for 2024. Adam Ottavino opted out of his player option with the Mets earlier in the winter but he’ll reportedly re-join the Mets for his third season in New York.

A Look at Ottavino

At the age of 37, Adam Ottavino set a career-high in saves (12) and proved to be highly valuable for the Mets in what was a bizarre campaign for the ‘Amazins. Across 66 appearances (61.2 IP), Ottavino posted a 3.21 ERA/4.52 FIP with 62 strikeouts over 61.2 IP.

Ottavino took over the closer’s job in August after ex-Met and new Texas Ranger David Robertson was traded to Miami. Over the final two months of the year, Ottavino notched six saves, struck out 22 over 18.2 IP, and opposing hitters had just a .653 OPS against him.

Adam Ottavino whiff 2023 — It’s not hard to figure out why Ottavino got so many whiffs to the glove side. The sweeper and cutter did the trick last season for Ottavino.

The 2023 campaign marked yet another strong season for Ottavino, a versatile reliever who’s been a workhorse for years. Since 2019, only eight primary relievers with nine or fewer starts have more innings pitched (274 IP) than Ottavino.

And aside from uneven campaigns in 2017 and 2020, Ottavino’s been one of the game’s better non-closing relievers over the past decade.

Much of his past success can be attributed to a deceptive delivery with a low arm slot and good stuff, especially his nasty sweeping slider. Ottavino’s slider has been a dominant pitch for years, long before the term “sweeper” came to be. It’s a pitch with depth and one that just runs away from right-handed hitters.

Ottavino gets plenty of ground balls thanks to a tight sinker and a pitch that plays off the changeup. The righty will also break out a cutter against lefties, a pitch he’s had for much of his career but also a weapon he’s used on and off over the years.

His ability to limit hard contact and get whiffs has helped Ottavino enjoy a lengthy MLB career.

Per the New York Post, Adam Ottavino will return to the Mets on a one-year deal worth $4.5MM. He previously declined a $6.75MM player option this winter.

Analysis

Assuming Edwin Diaz will be healthy on Opening Day, that would shift Ottavino back into a setup role. He’s set to join a re-aligned Mets bullpen, one that’s also set to include former Brave Michael Tonkin and former AL All-Star Jorge Lopez. Those two, as well as Yohan Ramirez, were picked up this winter.

For the Mets, the return of Ottavino gives New York some much-needed reliability in the back end of that bullpen. Brooks Raley did very well in his first season in Queens, but injuries and periodic struggles from Drew Smith and others created an inconsistent pen last season.

With Diaz set to return, the Mets will hope for better in 2024 from a bullpen that ranked 23rd in (SIERA 4.17) last season.

And as for Ottavino, the veteran reliever did indicate earlier this winter on Stadium’s Foul Territory that he did want to stay with the Mets but didn’t “feel 100% certain of what direction the team was going to look like, come Spring Training.” Hence, Ottavino tested the waters of free agency.

The deal is a short one and one that can be easily moved should the Mets be out of contention in the summer. Thus, Ottavino could be a trade asset if things go awry for the Mets in 2024.