The Mets announced Monday evening that they’re signed right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino. It’s reportedly a a one-year contract worth $4MM, plus $1MM of performance bonuses for the 36-year-old. Ottavino is represented by WME Sports.
Ottavino broke into the big leagues as a Cardinal but was claimed on waivers by the Rockies and ended up staying for seven seasons from 2012 to 2018. In that time, the righty got into 361 games, throwing 390 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.41, strikeout rate of 27.6% and walk rate of 10.1%. His last season with the Rockies was especially noteworthy, as he had the best year of his career at the age of 32. In that campaign, he threw 77 2/3 innings with a 2.43 ERA. His 11.7% walk rate was a few ticks above league average, but he offset that with an incredible 36.2% strikeout rate.
Based on that tremendous late-career breakout, the Yankees signed Ottavino to a three-year, $27MM contract. In 2019, Ottavino largely made good on the faith the Yankees showed in him. In 66 1/3 innings, he lowered his ERA to 1.90, despite his strikeout rate falling to 31.1% and his walk rate jumping to 14.1%. In the shortened 2020 season, however, things took an ugly turn, as he put up an ERA of 5.89 over 18 1/3 innings, with his strikeout rate falling to 29.4%.
Prior to the 2021 campaign, the Yankees sent Ottavino to the Red Sox, mostly because they were nearing the luxury tax and wanted his salary off the books. In 62 innings for Boston last year, his ERA was 4.21, not as bad as the small sample from 2020, but definitely a notch below his 2018-19 stretch. His strikeout rate also dipped for a third straight season, coming in at 25.7%.
For the Mets, this is yet another move in what has been an extremely busy offseason for them. They upgraded their lineup by signing Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar. They also improved their rotation by signing Max Scherzer before the lockout and trading for Chris Bassitt yesterday. Now they’ve added Ottavino to a bullpen that already features Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Miguel Castro and Seth Lugo. Those are all right-handed options, meaning that the club could look to supplement that group with a lefty, if their wild roster revamp isn’t yet complete.
To create space on the 40-man roster, New York outrighted right-hander Antonio Santos, tweets Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets had claimed the 25-year-old off waivers from the Rockies in November, but he didn’t stick on the New York 40-man all winter. He doesn’t have the requisite service time to refuse an outright assignment, so he’ll remain in the organization as non-roster depth.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported the agreement and its terms.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa boi
He had a couple if bad stretches including late last season but wasn’t as bad as his numbers suggested. I was hoping for a Sox reunion but at a cheaper price. Not bad for him given the game has gotten younger and 2020 and 2021.
Keep ‘em Coming baby!!!!!
The Mets currently have no lefties on the opening day roster. The only healthy lefty on the 40man is Peterson who will start the season in AAA. Lucchesi is the only other lefty and he probably wont pitch until the end of the year. Ottovino will take the 40th spot as well. Something has to happen for them.
Peterson probably but I’m going to say they scoop up hand or chafin or overpay for Hader as a last resort… papa Cohen will make sure of it
They will have their lefty soon ala Chafin probably or in the best case scenario Hader
Waiting patiently to see the Mets fans hilarious lopsided proposals for Hader.
No one is trying to put together a lopsided proposal. Go back into your hole
You mean you’re Waiting Patiently for whatever team you root for to make moves Like The Mets have been making? It’s okay though pal all will be alright. Its two tablespoons of tears you take with your coffee right?
Haha. Mets fans get so bitter so quickly. Relax, kiddo. I’m sure your team will outpace mine. What an accomplishment.
Like Milwaukee fans aren’t proposing giving them your 3 top prospects and 2 major leaguers for a guy they want to trade. Fans going to fan.
You’re the one trolling on the Mets moves!! It def seems like you’re the one whose butt hurt old man. Remember to take your Metamucil Pops
Just turn on WFAN. You’ll hear it all.
Don’t want him. Racist piece of crap.
Harder and Stern for Robinson Cano and an 8 x 10 of Ryan Braun’s FedEx driver.
Like no other fan bases propose preposterous trades. Why it was just two years ago that Brewer fans were telling us that Keston Huira was “untouchable”. You know, the guy who hit .168 last season.
Yes, however Ottavino stated he could strike Babe Ruth out and he is a left handed hitter.
Isn’t Ruth the all time leader in strikeouts? Prime ottavino very likely could have struck him out. It’s not ridiculous.
Not even in the top 100. Reggie Jackson is the all time strike out king.
Damn, I stand corrected
Luchessi, Peterson, Szapucki. Those are the three lefties currently on the roster. But they all have big question marks. It is something they need to address
Gollsman?
Okay. And the Brewers would like to get deGrom from the Mets. Oh what? The Mets aren’t interested in trading deGrom because they intend to compete next season? What a coincidence. The Brewers intend to compete as well.
What a coincidence the brewers have basically ZERO OFFENSE and are lacking especially at the third base position. What the brewers do have is a mass abundance of great relief pitchers and if they decided to trade Hader they have Williams who would step right in and close. Do some research before you open your mouth with utter nonsense.
I guess you DIDN’T watch last season. You must have missed that starting rotation that propelled them to the playoffs. But more important than your opinion is what the Brewers think and they think they are competing so they aren’t going to trade Hader. Now that you know you can stop with this stupid trade idea.
How’s that Yelich contract working out for you? LOL
The Phillies paid Familia more than the Mets paid Ottavino. The Phillies are a joke right now. So much for dealing Dave.
Familia is younger though and a longer history of being a closer. So 2 mill more makes sense.
Familia also has a career FIP over 4.00 the past three seasons. That’s not exactly a good thing.
“Career FIP…the past three seasons.” Which is it, career or three seasons?
It’s not exactly a bad thing either. Knebel is closing as of rn IMO.
Familia’s numbers in Philly are horrific.
No they’re not.
Familia also leads the league in heart palpitations created. He’ll fit in well for Philly based on their bullpen last year.
Can’t wait to see Familia lose the strike zone, as so often happens with him, and then give up a Citifield pop out to the warning track which inPhilly will be in the stands.
Mets open their pockets for anyone. That hasn’t helped them in the past. Let’s see what it does this year.
The Mets have looked great on paper several times in the last decade. Feels like it’s typically a colossal misfortune of injuries to everyone that dogs them.
But that’s what happens when you invest in experienced players well into their 30’s.
Right, all those super old players that have had serious injuries for the Mets like Matt Harvey, Zach Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Nimmo, Yoenis Cespedes, Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yammamoto, Seth Lugo, David Peterson, JD Davis etc. Such old timers.
Ottavino versus Diekman in the 12th inning of game 7 of the 2022 World Series.
Waaaaaaaay too early. Mets have thrown money at guys for years and years and where has that gotten them?
Lol when did they throw money at people? Other than Beltran? It’s been dumpster diving
Cespedes. Santana. Delgado. Piazza. The dumpster diving comments are ridiculous. Mets always spent until the end of the Wilpon era. Now in the Cohen era they are spending on a historically laughable pace. It’s WS or bust for the Mets going forward which can be good and bad for fans. Right now, Mets fans deserve to be on Cloud 9.
Krod and Wagner in the BP
Hahaha. 4 players over 20 years. What a trend of “overpaying”
Some distinctions: I never said overpay. I can list much more than 4 and so can honest Mets fans. The narrative that they didn’t spend money is false. The narrative that they are a poverty franchise is false
The fact that Steve Cohen is spending on a historic level is true.
The Mets have spent to a point, but got cheap when completing the team with the right pieces. That is the Wilpon legacy. You can’t spend on one or two players, and expect to win. You have to put the best pieces together. They always got so close, and then decided to settle.
@ signal
If you cared, you’d have done the research yourself.
Now you just come off as being bitter 🙂
You even forgot Jason Bay, Mo Vaughn, Billy Wagner, KRod, etc.
Jdt, I completely disagree with this. For years Mets fans have been singing this false refrain. They spend and spend and fans complain that they needed just one more piece. If you have one of the highest payrolls in baseball and still fail, it’s not because you didn’t sign one extra player. And if they DID sign that extra player, fans would still sing the same tune anyway.
@pwndroia. Come on now. Hayzee was clearly joking and you know that. Also, it seems like you’re looking for a thread to pick at when you say the “Mets have thrown money at guys for years and years.” I’ve been surprised, even shocked at how much Cohen has spent as well, but that has only been this offseason. The previous offseason they didn’t even lift their payroll over the luxury tax limit. Even more pointed is that their payroll had never been above $160 million before 2021.
I actually like the Mets, I just noticed they don’t have much thinking beyond buying the best players. That rarely works in this day and age.
Yeah, just look at the Dodgers. How much success do they have to show for consistently buying the best players? They only have 1 World Series, 3 World Series appearances and another NLCS appearances in 5 years. Really disappointing. And the other big spenders, Red Sox, Yanks, Phillies, Nationals. What success have they achieved over the past decade of two? Honestly everyone should be the Marlins, they won a World Series in 2003 with no money!
Phillies?
Ottavino walks a ton of guys and goes deep in counts on almost every batter
He falls in love with the slider too often. Some games he’ll go out and mix up the FB right, which hits 97 at the top of the zone, then throw the slider and make hitters look silly.
Hit and miss on games how he’ll mix his pitches. He goes out and is slider happy? Forget it.
So he’s a perfect replacement for Familia?
Very nice BP piece – when he’s throwing right.
Can’t wait til he strikes out Ruth when the Mets face the Yankees
The guy could strike out Babe Ruth in three straight pitches.
I don’t think he can throw three straight strikes though.
But if Babe Ruth started his career now he would never hit.
Not saying much. Babe Ruth is dead.
And still Ottavino’s favorite team has done NOTHING all off season. WTF Cashman, DO SOMETHING! Heck, sign a minor league deal to let me know you’re still alive!
Right? Dude, come on! Killing me, man. Probably hanging pie charts of the team’s CBTs on Cashman’s wall in special picture frames…..
Most guys have supermodels on their wall; Cashman has budget spreadsheets & savings under the CBT highlighted….. Oooohhhh yeah, baby
It’s only 4m. Probably a bargain at that price. Just more depth to add. Why not
He’s decent as long as you don’t put him in a big spot
What happens if you put him in a big spot? His ability suddenly changes?
In a compressed matchup type of role, that slider still plays. He faded down the stretch twice on us. & he has a propensity to give up runs in clusters.
All that being acknowledged, there would have been a spot even in the Yanks bullpen for him.
Pretty useful reliever.
Ducky, you see Boone’s SS statement? He said Gio is the starting SS? I know it’s early but that confidence makes me shiver
Wait.
What!? No. I didn’t. I suppose technically he is. But…he’s a good 3rd baseman. Not a SS.
Yep, multiple articles came out about his press statement on this….. Ugh. Here’s just one but they all quote Boone’s own words:
https://nypost.com/2022/03/13/gio-urshela-will-be-yankees-shortstop-for-now/amp/
Uh.
Man, I take that as a “right now” statement. & – at the – moment it *is* Urshela. I still think that’ll change, Clip.
I hope so….. as I said, there’s time, I know it’s early, but his response is not even, “we will have to see who ends up the best fit through ST” or something generic.
@Ducky, he could fit, but not necessary at $4/5MM. Yankees build and rebuild bullpens just about as well as any team, using a match of high-end known names, their own minor leaguers, trades and castoffs. Last year I remember touting Luetge coming into camp even though he had been away for years. This camp? Keep an eye on Jimmy Cordero, who is now healthy again. They’ll also need to figure out a place for Ridings and there’s at least four other arms in AAA that could step into the MLB pen. The last I checked, however, is actually need to trade or demote someone from the MLB pen. Too many arms, too few slots. As with Luetge last year, injuries have a way to create opportunities.
So don’t worry about the pen. SS is a different story!
I like our pen. I like our pitching* in general.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a RH extreme slider guy or a sidearmer added to the mix in the pen. But that about it.
Noted on Cordero.
&: LOCASTRO FELLAS!
* if Taillon wasn’t going to miss the first month or so I would have zero concerns with the entire staff. As such, wouldn’t mind another external starter added.
Yes in the starters. Taillon will miss a month and Severino will have to be under limits. I really did/do want them to add a starter.
A capable #3 (or better) would be nice.
Bassitt and Ottovono are 2 huge pickups. Carrasco might end up in Syracuse.
Bassist is a good pickup, although a bit costly in the prospect department. The rest of your statement, however…
One prospect and one scrap heap pickup through the rule 5. You’ve got to give to get. Mets farm is fine.
If the God damn Phils contintue to sit on their hands they will more of a laugh stock than they already are. If that is even possible.
Well, they just picked up Familia.
One year for $4M hoping he bounces back is not the worst thing. He is erratic. Familia light at a cheaper price.
They seem a few years too late with this signing.
A few years not too late would’ve meant you don’t get him for 4mil.
Currently, the picture at the top of this article shows a right handed pitcher. Pretty sure Ottavino is a lefty
Hmm… I stand corrected. Wonder why I thought that.
Watched him all last year with the Sox; he’ll give Metsies some ulcers. But the best time to buy a reliever is after an off year. Worth the risk, especially since Adam O’s off year wasn’t THAT bad.
Great pick up for middle reliever.
Lots of pitchers going to teams not named the Angels. Maybe our esteemed owner believes we have enough.
Maybe a half tick above fungible at this stage of his career, which is why he’s on his third team in a year. $4M is not a problem though, although the preference is not to have to sign a guy like this to fill out your pen.
Cohen has F-You money. For $4M, it doesn’t matter if he makes it 1 month or plays the whole season. They have another trick up their sleeve in a trade for a reliever.
Nice depth signing.
When Ottavino is on, he is lights out. But when he’s off, he can be scary to watch. Good pickup for the Mets and I’m sure Mets fans will definitely prefer him to Jeurys Familia…
So are the Mets planning on signing anyone under 30? They already gave up Ginn for a 33 year old. Might as well go for broke and trade some more prospects for some young controllable players.
They’re going to sign as many players to short term (1-2 yr) deals as they can. Playing the short and the long game. Plenty of prospect capital left. Youngsters on the way.
Keep the low-risk bullpen signings coming.
He’s at least better than Betances for half of what they paid that dud the last two seasons.
Ottavino did have some stretches last yr where he was unhittable.Then other times he would be in a groove but a bloop single or missed call would throw him off his game and then he’d get pounded.