For all of the attention that has been placed on the New York Mets quest to restock their rotation, the bullpen needs work as well.
Keeping Edwin Diaz was a great start. His presence has the ninth inning locked down for the next five years. But the Mets still need to be able to bridge the gap between their starters and Diaz, something that may be easier said than done.
New York Mets hoping to keep Adam Ottavino
Part of that equation could involve keeping one of their relievers from last season. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are hoping to keep Adam Ottavino around for next season.
Ottavino had a strong showing in his first season with the Mets last year. He posted a 2.06 ERA and a 0.975 WHiP over his 65.2 innings, striking out 79 batters with just 16 walks. He was the Mets’ second best reliever last season and exactly the piece they need to help bridge those latter innings.
The problem is the cost. According to Puma, the Mets would prefer to give Ottavino a one year deal, something that is understandable considering that he is already 37 years old. However, given the way the market for relief pitching has exploded early in free agency this offseason, he could be looking at a multi-year contract with a significant raise over his $4 million salary from last year.
There is some risk in that type of a deal. Ottavino has struggled with his command at times in the past, averaging 5.2 walks per nine innings from 2017 through 2021. While his command was greatly improved with the Mets, he has been a bit of a tightrope act at times over the years. Any team giving him a multi-year contract would be hoping that his improvements last year were not a one year aberration.
The New York Mets are hoping to keep Adam Ottavino around for 2023. It is a matter of how hot of a market he will have in the coming weeks.