The New York Yankees have officially signed veteran right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino to an MLB contract, adding the experienced arm to their bullpen. The announcement came on Tuesday, as the club also made corresponding roster moves to accommodate Ottavino on their 40-man roster.
The 39-year-old pitcher joins the Yankees after spending the 2024 season with the New York Mets, where he posted a 2-2 record with one save and a 4.34 ERA across 60 relief appearances. In 56.0 innings pitched, Ottavino allowed 49 hits, 29 runs (27 earned), and 23 walks while striking out 70 batters.
Ottavino initially signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox on February 18, 2025, but opted out of his contract on March 23, paving the way for his return to the Bronx.
The Yankees officially announced the move on X, formerly Twitter, stating: āPrior to tonightās game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
ā¢ Signed RHP Adam Ottavino to a Major League contract and added him to the active roster.
ā¢ Transferred RHP JT Brubaker to the 60-day injured list.
ā¢ Placed RHP Devin Williams on the paternity list.ā
Ottavino: A proven track record
Over the course of his 14-year MLB career, Ottavino has played for the St. Louis Cardinals (2010), Colorado Rockies (2012-18), Yankees (2019-20), Red Sox (2021), and Mets (2022-24). Ottavino has been one of the most durable relievers in recent years. Since 2017, his 496 relief appearances rank third in MLB, behind only Andrew Chafin (500) and HĆ©ctor Neris (498).
Adam Ottavino #0 and Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 25, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Return to the Bronx
Ottavino is no stranger to the Yankees organization, having previously pitched for the team from 2019 to 2020. In his first stint in pinstripes, he recorded an 8-8 record with two saves, a 2.76 ERA, and 113 strikeouts over 97 relief appearances. He also made history as the first player in franchise history to wear No. 0.
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Yankees: Roster moves and outlook
With Ottavinoās return, the Yankees add a veteran presence to their relief corps, providing manager Aaron Boone with another trusted late-inning option. As the team looks to strengthen its pitching staff for the grind of the 2025 MLB season, Ottavinoās experience and ability to perform in high-leverage situations could play a pivotal role in the Yankeesā postseason aspirations.
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