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PORT ST. LUCIE — Adam Ottavino again welcomes the opportunity to pitch in his hometown.
The Brooklyn native received that chance with the Yankees in 2019-20 and arrived at spring training with the Mets on Tuesday, after receiving a one-year contract worth $4 million.
“It’s where I really want to be,” said Ottavino, who resides with his family in NYC. “I get to sleep in my own bed and see my kids more and not have to move three times, so that is the biggest thing. I am excited about that and obviously this team. It’s great that a good team is in New York.”
The last comment could be construed as a shot at the Yankees. Ottavino, visibly upset hours later that his comment was interpreted in that manner, told The Post that wasn’t his intent.
“Those are my friends over there,” Ottavino said. “I would have gone back there. There is nothing to it.”
Ottavino pitched to a 4.21 ERA and 11 saves in 69 appearances for the Red Sox last season. His penchant for pitching to weak contact — he placed in MLB’s 95th percentile, according to baseball savant, in hard-hit ball percentage — was intriguing to the Mets.
“I struggled down the stretch,” Ottavino said. “I just had some things get away from me, things didn’t go my way a little bit toward the end there and it kind of messed up my bottom-line numbers, but overall I thought I did a good job helping us get where we needed to get, to the playoffs and beyond. I was happy overall. I thought I put in a good year of work.”
Jeff McNeil will receive the majority of playing time at second base this spring, according to manager Buck Showalter. Robinson Cano also factors into the position in his return from a PED suspension that cost him all of last season.
“I think Robbie knows that he’s not going to play second base every day for us, as much as he wants to,” Showalter said. “We hope that he’s not a pure DH, either. We also think there is some potential to play first base. I don’t think it will be split [at second base], I think Mac will get the majority there, but I know where Robbie is physically.”
Showalter isn’t ready to commit to positions in the outfield. He noted that Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha all have experience playing center field and the corner-outfield positions. The manager said he’s just begun discussions with the players to get their feedback.
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