The New York Mets re-signed reliever Adam Ottavino to a two-year deal on Tuesday, re-signing them to a great backup for Puerto Rican star closer Edwin Diaz.
Ottavino’s contract includes a player option in 2024. He became a free agent after going 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA and three saves in 66 appearances last season, his first with the Mets.
The 37-year-old right-hander, who grew up in Brooklyn, tied for seventh in the National League with 19 holds and supported right-handed hitters with a .161 average. With his extraordinary slider, he struck out 79 and walked 19 in 65 2/3 innings to help the Mets reach the postseason for the first time since 2016.
“Adam has a long track record of success,” Mets general manager Billy Eppler admitted in a news release. “He was essential for us in the final moments of the games and it makes clear the confidence we have in him. We are excited to have him back.”
Ottavino joins veteran right-hander David Robertson and left-hander Brooks Raley in the back of the Mets bullpen anchored by Diaz.
Robertson agreed to sign for one year and $10 million, Raley came in a trade with Tampa Bay and Diaz re-signed for $102 million and five years. Right-hander Drew Smith also returns.
Ottavino is 38-34 with a 3.44 ERA and 33 saves in 12 major league seasons with the Cardinals, Rockies, Yankees, Red Sox and Mets.
Wizards top 76ers to end eight-game winning streak
Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points, Bradley Beal added 19 and the Washington Wizards ended Philadelphia’s eight-game winning streak by beating the 76ers 116-111 on Tuesday night.
The Wizards withstood Joel Embiid’s 48-point effort and James Harden’s 26-point, 13-assist performance. The 76ers cut a 16-point deficit to one late in the game, but couldn’t turn around Washington, which was without Beal in the final 4:17.
Beal apparently was injured only when he collided with Embiid and immediately left the game. It was not clear that he passed, but he looked frustrated as he headed into the tunnel.
There were some bad shots without the Wizards’ star point guard on the floor, but they had enough good defensive plays to hold the score.
Embiid cut the gap to one with a Harden-assisted alley-oop dunk, but Porzingis hit a 3-pointer to make it 111-107. With 2:05 left, Embiid missed the first of two free throws — his only miss in 14 attempts from the line.
With the score 111-108, Embiid went down as he drove to the basket and let the ball go wide with 1:29 remaining.