Veteran right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino turned down a $6.75MM player option to remain with the Mets at the beginning of the offseason. The decision was a surprise to some, as it’s always risky for any 38-year-old reliever to test the free-agent waters — particularly in lieu of accepting a locked-in salary that’s near the going market rate for a veteran setup man. However, Ottavino was a guest on Foul Territory this morning and, when asked, explained that his decision wasn’t so much a financial one but rather one of wanting to ensure he was in a competitive situation as he progresses into the latter stages of his career.
“To be clear, I wanted to stick with the Mets,” Ottavino explained to host Scott Braun (video link). “It’s the best situation for me, being a New York guy. I loved my time with the Mets. It’s just more of a function of, at the moment I had to make the decision, there was just so much uncertainty with the team. They hadn’t hired a manager yet. There was no coaching staff. They hadn’t gotten any free agents yet. We’d kind of scuffled down the stretch. There was this narrative that the team wasn’t going to try to compete this year. Obviously, I’m not getting any younger. I tried to talk to [president of baseball operations] David Stearns and get a little certainty on my end. Obviously, he’s going to play things close to the vest. That’s the way front offices operate, and I totally understand that. But from my perspective, I just didn’t feel 100% certain of what direction the team was going to look like, come spring training. I also had a lot of deferred money in my contract for this year. In that moment, it made sense for me to test the waters. I’d still like to be back there, but my mind is open to lots of different outcomes this time around. I feel like I’m on a year-to-year basis at this point with my age. I just don’t want to sell myself short; I’ve still never won, and I would like the opportunity to do that.”
Ottavino is an accomplished reliever with more than $50MM in career earnings to date, which also surely factored into his comfort level with turning down that guaranteed sum. It’s understandable, given his age and career earnings, that maxing out his salary in 2024 perhaps isn’t the right-hander’s top priority. Ottavino has pitched in five different postseasons for four different teams (Rockies, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets) but never advanced beyond the League Championship Series.
Given his track record and his 2023 platform year, it’s certainly possible that Ottavino can come close to or even exceed the money he declined from the Mets, particularly when factoring for the deferrals. At the time he declined his option, Ottavino told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that $4MM of that $6.75MM sum was deferred. The right-hander said he approached the Mets about a two-year deal (that would extend into a 2025 season where the club ostensibly will be taking larger strides to be competitive), but the team did not reciprocate that interest.
The 2023 season was yet another solid one for Ottavino. The former No. 30 overall pick (2006, Cardinals) pitched 61 2/3 innings of 3.21 ERA ball for the Mets and picked up a dozen saves and holds apiece along the way. Ottavino’s average sinker dipped for a second straight season (94.2 mph in ’22, 92.8 mph in ’23), and he saw both his strikeout and walk rates take a turn for the worse (30.6% and 6.2%, respectively, in 2022; 23.8% and 11.1% in 2023). This year’s 56.3% ground-ball rate was his highest mark since an injury-shortened 2016 season with the Rockies, however, and was the largest single-season mark he’s posted in his lengthy career.
Only once in the past six years has Ottavino had a sub-par season — that being the shortened 2020 campaign, when he had a 5.89 ERA in a tiny sample of just 18 1/3 innings. Collectively, he touts a 2.89 ERA, 29.7% strikeout rate, 11.2% walk rate and 46.4% ground-ball rate in 351 2/3 innings since Opening Day 2018. There ought to be at least a one-year deal out there in free agency, and it sounds as though Ottavino will prioritize signing with a team that has a rather clear chance at a postseason berth.
Always pulling for that guy, he’s a real cerebral pitcher.
That frisbee slider is always fun to watch
“Cerebral pitcher”..Ottavino was great on MLB.TV. I really enjoyed the insights of such a cerebral player.
I totally agree. Adam Ottavino has a very high baseball IQ and has retained a lot of personal insights and observations regarding a huge number of MLB batters he has faced over the years, and he’s also extremely knowledgeable about many other MLB pitchers as well. He’s still highly competitive and I think he’s someone who’s likely very honest with himself about how he can still contribute to a team. I hope someone gives him a chance and that he goes on to have a successful 2024 season. (I also think he’d be an excellent mentor for younger pitchers.)
Ohhh boy. Yankees should sign this guy. He’ll likely end up on the jays. Or rays. Pretty effective guy on the occasion he feels like it. Otherwise he tosses meatballs.
Whoever signs him is going to enjoy walk batters like acuna and have him steal second and third in 2 pitches because he is sooo SLOW to throw
@Sourhaze
Get rid of that rule that allows baserunners to run without being checked on. If he’s actually fast enough to take a base, he shouldn’t need help from the MLB to do it. Athletic players like Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock & Billy Hamilton (1800s) were all athletic enough to swipe bases without the league helping them do so. The bases that were taken in 2023 should all have an asterisks next to them as having assistance to take them.
@Oldyork, you do know that well before our time, they counted running 1st to 3rd on a single as a stolen base, no? times change, rules change. I think it was a good change. Records being chased or broken are fun to watch, as are milestones. Young kids getting into the game now are going to want to see records be broken, not just told of how all these dead and old guys from before their time were better. I didn’t get to see the bambino play but I also know guys’ power numbers from that era are different with fences nearly as close as they are now and the quality of the equipment is so much better these days. The evolution of the game has been tremendous over my lifetime.
@Joe Kerr
Which time do you speak of? Rickey Henderson? LOL, no, they did not. Disinformation at best.
Nothing wrong with breaking records but if the kids want to see this, they should tell MLB to have equivalents. They played fewer games further back and yet these records still exist. Maybe the problem is with the analytics guys not the players?
Back when players like Rickey Henderson were all athletic, unlike today, and pitchers were throwing 89 mph, catchers had 3 second pop times, unlike today. You know, they should just put asterisks on all the bases taken in all years
@Slow day at work
That’s part of being an athlete, to train yourself to do better than the past with the present situation. Henderson didn’t cry that he couldn’t steal enough bases and was often caught but fans enjoyed the excitement and he did it without a pizza box sized base. Ridiculous!
It’s not the players need the help, it’s the analytics guys who had determined with the old rules that stealing was not worth the risk of producing an out, and as I recall fans were complaining about the 3 true outcome game that baseball had become then. Fast forward to today and with some extremely minor tweaks MLB has brought value to base stealing and contact hitters again, and here you are still complaining about how everything should have an asterisk next to it.
I also hope you see the sad irony in bringing up a player from segregated baseball in an argument about players not needing the league’s help in setting records.
MLB has cheapened the stolen base with their forced rule. Analytics guys destroyed this aspect of the game. It’s a completely different rule now and you can’t really compare the two different records. That’s why I recommended it, because the rules of play have changed.
As for bringing up a guy from the 1800s, we’ve counted these individuals in all the records but if you really want to be picky, we can also see that Tim Raines & Vince Coleman were also quite successful without having to change the rules of play. The stolen base has been cheapened out for short-term pleasure, which was only created because of the analytic nerds messed it up, as they did with most of baseball in recent years.
in 2015, the first year that MLB kept track of pop times there were only 21 catchers with a pop time under 2 seconds. Last year in 2023 there were 64 under 2 seconds.
MLB changed the rules because pitchers and catchers are way too good now at preventing steals.
This isn’t any different than when MLB lowered the pitchers mound in ’68, should all pitching and batting stats have an asterisk after ’68?
@Slow day at work
Exactly. They’ve destroyed baseball. It’s quite unwatchable since the 70s.
People complaining about analytics ruining the game probably also support the old-school philosophy of playing the percentages.
I support the extra run a game that analytics has taking away in the last two decades.
@gbs42
I support analytics when it makes sense. Preventing SBs from happening isn’t one of those. Developing players so they either K, BB or HR isn’t one of those either. It’s collateral damage caused by the analytic nerds that has turned the sport into a boring game that they ended up having to change the rules because they messed up but won’t admit it.
@Mets6986
The year 2002 had the same R/G (4.62) as 2023. What runs have they taken away in the past two decades?
In 2000 over 25k runs were scored. In 2022, a little over 20k runs were scored. It bounced up to 22k last year because of the rules you are complaining about. What side of the argument are you on because you just gave a lot of evidence against your complaining about the new rules.
@Mets6986??
There were years in the 30s, onward that they averaged 5+ runs per game and they didn’t have these SB rules.
you forgot to mention Piano Legs Gore. 7 SB’s in one game. 😉
@cleonswoboda
Please accept my greatest apology for such omission.
I agree with you, get rid of that rule.
@Tomas7
Thank you for agreeing. Most of the rules they’ve made up in the past few decades are reactionary behaviour because of poor analytics departments messing up the game. Should have a separation of nerds and jocks when it comes to sports. Nerds can keep their secret Maths society to themselves and the jocks can play the sports.
Correcto! He cannot hold runner, and with bigger bases and rule changes his problems are magnified.
@spudchukar
There’s no value in holding on runners. Let them run as much as you want. The pitcher’s job is now to get the batter out and prevent that run.
Let every runner steal until they get to 3rd, so that every passed ball results in a run. What could go wrong?
@GhostofRandySavage
You must be a fan of the ghost runner. Unfortunate…
Only if it’s an actual poltergeist. Maybe the ghost of Ty Cobb. Have yet to see it but still hoping.
Looks like he will be on a team competing for 3rd place in the NL EAST.
Nevermind miss read that. Made the smart choice to leave the Mets.
Funny some guys want the money, get it and are not happy. How much do guys want to WIN? Well some players not as much as some fans. How refreshing to see a guy be honest and clearly state his intentions. Hope he gets to a winner and gets to play in playoffs.
Probably has to do with age & maturity though. Earlier in his career he was in it for the money, or so it seems. His reasoning for leaving the Mets contextually implies that he now sees winning as the priority (versus earlier in his career).
It’s completely understandable because obviously in the younger stage, players typically value money & security. As the age and realize their career is coming to a close, they think about their legacy and accomplishments, or lack thereof.
It is refreshing to read that though, no doubt.
Is it really just about winning? Sounds like a big part of it is not wanting to only make $2M next year with the rest deferred
He opted out because he thought he could make more $$ on the open market. Is there any other reason to opt out besides hating your current team?
A refreshingly honest and well-rounded perspective.
He clearly stated that he preferred a team that would have a chance to compete as he is nearing the end of his career. Some guys want a chance to win a ring
Yea an at the very least he is guaranteed to make more then the 2.25M that wasn’t differed on his deal. The jays are set in the bullpen and i even think they will trade a yimi Garcia or Trevor Richards and maybe get the LHP RHH OF they need or add something to it and make a bigger deal for a DH or something.
I wouldn’t mind him in the Orioles bullpen for a season.
He does realize he was part of the problem, right?
He had a decent year. 132 ERA+, basically his career norm.
Actually was one of the Mets better relievers, but he can be frustrating at times.
You’re very lucky if a single relief pitcher can produce two WAR in a season. The Mets bullpen ranked 22nd in baseball last year and it was clearly a weakness of theirs. However, on the whole, Ottavino was better than most of the Mets relievers, and the team would have been worse with a replacement-level player. Getting Diaz back should help a great deal, but I’d want Ottavino on my team’s squad anytime.
@burn0820 Going on 38, in steep decline, third-worst FIP (4.52) for his entire career? You’d hope he does.
Houston might be willing to overpay him, though. I doubt Crane knows what SIERA is or that he can name a pitchers peripherals by category, and Bags probably reads that ERA and gets excited.
Ehhhh, they’ll win 102 and the west. Then get bounced out of the divisional in 4 like usual!
They have won two pennants. They have never won the World Series.
“Remind me, when did your padres last win a pennant? Oh yeah, never.”
The Padres won the NL pennant in 1984 and 1998, douchebag.
And the Tigers and Yankees are in the AL
Bruh…best team ever made? You crushin’ on them boys in blue HARD! Just better hope this isn’t one of them post that doesn’t age badly. Because them boys out east in the Bronx are putting together a pretty decent squad.
People were crownin’ the Padres last year as the best and well…you can buy talent, but you can’t buy chemistry!
Keep calling people clowns when you obviously have no clue what winning the pennant means.
Can ya read bruh? I said, you CAN buy talent but you CAN’T buy chemistry!
Dodger fans and the LA Public school system…gotta love it!
What do we think he gets? 1/$8?
He did the Mets a big favor by walking away from that player option. Even if most of it is deferred, he’s not going to get $6.75 mil on the open market, nor the two year deal that he asked the Mets for. His periphals are declining each year and he can’t hold anyone on base. Every walk or single he gives up turns in to a double at a minimum. His best days are behind him.
Stearns is shopping in the reliever aisle at this point but they’ll be low budget signings, that’s his MO. He’ll pick up 2 relievers for the $6.75 mil that Otto saved him.
Your Mom says you have to bring her laptop back upstairs.
I don’t think it would be a smart allocation of their funds, but it would be fun to see Ottavino back in Boston. I loved watching him pitch when he was there. That slider is otherworldly.
Phillies could use an arm at the backend. The Astros could still use another late inning guy, Twins and Rangers too. There are competitive teams he could sign with, of course those teams would have to want to sign him…
Foul Territory is a great show. I highly recommend subscribing.
I don’t see him getting a two year deal at this stage, but he’ll get a deal with a contender. Non-zero chance he’s back with the Mets, but I suspect Stearns will look to build his pen from scratch.
HUGE STATEMENT ! Time for Met fans to panic. Get out of there Alonso.
@MPrck Well, no serious Mets fans thought they’d be looking to contend in 2024
Admittedly, casual fans in denial were foolish enough to think Cohen would send payroll to $400 million with $130 million-plus in penalties to take a shot at 85 wins and the last wildcard while hamstringing the team with multiyear deals going into 2025 and after.
Everyone else, though? No. They knew it wasn’t happening. —And it will be the Mets who are well rid of Alonso and his 8/$240m asking price, rather than the reverse. A 3 win 1Bman in decline, who by 2026 will be an obvious DH-only guy? Enjoy Coors Field and those ever-lengthening DH stints with Kris Bryant, buddy. Hey, the Angels will probably pay your price!
He doesn’t want any deferred money, says the article.
Dodgers are capable of doing that. They might defer the WS title, been doing that since 1988. Or wait for some tiny season so they can add one with a discount like in 2020.
TRANSLATION: “Are you serious? Even with my 4.52 FIP in 2023 you think I’m going back to that godawful chitshow? You know the club’s owned by Steve Cohen, right? And that he still owns the team?”
Wouldn’t mind Twins giving him a shot. We need pitching pretty badly. Pitching was the only reason we did so well last year and now we lost some of our better guys to free agency…
Stick a fork in him.
That would be mean.
“It wasn’t about the money.” Translation, he is trying for more money.
He said he WANTED to stick with the Mets. I think that changed when the Mets dumped key players at the deadline and declared that 2024 would be a bit of a rebuild. 2024 could be his last season so he wants to go out with a winner. But I guess he wouldn’t mind getting more money too
I want to stay with the mets.
Spends 5 minutes explaining why he doesn’t want to be with the mets.
I get it. It’s a shame players can’t just say what they mean without someone getting upset.
He could sign with the Rays for $1million and have a competitive season. The Rays could even throw in a subscription to The New Yorker and a Subaru with a green bike rack and a license plate “IMCEREBRAL.”
LOL!!!