After Justin Verlander’s introductory press conference at Citi Field on Tuesday morning, Mets general manager Billy Eppler said the team would be “opportunistic and open-minded to adding where we can on the pitching side. We’ll see what this week brings.”
Later in the day brought the news that Adam Ottavino would be back with the team on a two-year deal with an opt-out after 2023 that could be worth $14.5 million, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.
The Brooklyn native was the Mets’ most dependable reliever in 2022 outside of closer Edwin Diaz and the team has now brought back both right-handers on new contracts.
Ottavino, 37, had a bounce-back year after back-to-back subpar seasons with the Yankees in 2020 and Boston in 2021. He rebounded with the Mets last season, finishing with a 2.06 ERA and 0.975 WHIP in 65 ²/₃ innings over 66 games.
Ottavino will join Diaz in the back end of the bullpen, as well as another newly signed ex-Yankee, David Robertson and Brooks Raley.
Robertson signed a one-year, $10 million deal after pitching well for the Cubs and Phillies last season.
Raley had a standout year with Tampa Bay and was acquired in a trade for a minor leaguer this month.
The Mets will still look to add bullpen arms and are among the teams interested in the White Sox’s Liam Hendriks, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
There’s no guarantee Chicago will move their 33-year-old closer who saved 37 games last season.
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Hendriks is a three-time All-Star — including each of the last two seasons.
He signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the White Sox before the 2021 season after five seasons with the Athletics. Hendriks is set to make $14 million in 2023 (with a luxury-tax salary of $18 million) and has a $15 million club option for 2024.
Seth Lugo and Trevor May have signed elsewhere, still leaving holes in the pen.
The Mets hired Dom Chiti to be their new bullpen coach. Chiti was on manager Buck Showalter’s staff in both Texas and Baltimore. Chiti will replace Craig Bjornson, who was not retained.