Adam Ottavino, the hometown reliever, returns to the Mets on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

New York Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sept. 18, 2023, in Miami. Ottavino and the Mets finalized a one-year contract Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, that keeps the veteran reliever with his hometown team. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)That made Ottavino a free agent. But months later, the 38-year-old right-hander returned to help fortify a Mets bullpen that struggled last season without injured Edwin Díaz. The star closer has recovered from knee surgery, andOttavino figures to be perhaps his primary setup man again as part of a relief corps that also includes left-hander Brooks Raley, right-hander Drew Smith and newcomer Jorge López. “Adam has been a steady, integral piece of the bullpen for this club over the last two seasons,” new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a news release. “We’re excited to keep him home in New York, where he’s thrived on the field, and we look forward to having him pitch important innings for us in 2024.”Ottavino, who grew up in Brooklyn, gets a $500,000 signing bonus. He had a 2.49 ERA in the second half last season and finished with 62 strikeouts against 29 walks in 61 2/3 innings. He was 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA and three saves over 66 outings as a setup man for Díaz in 2022, helping New York to 101 wins and a playoff berth. The Mets are 88-44 in Ottavino’s appearances for the team. He’s held opponents scoreless in 292 of his 373 outings (78.2%) since 2018, both totals marking the most in the majors during that span. Ottavino is 39-41 overall with a 3.42 ERA and 45 saves in 13 major league seasons with the Cardinals (2010), Rockies (2012-18), Yankees (2019-20), Red SoxTo open a spot for Ottavino, catcher Tyler Heineman was designated for assignment. That leaves 22-year-old Francisco Álvarez and backup Omar Narváez as the only catchers on New York’s 40-man roster.