NEW YORK -- Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Ottavino, who pitched for the Yankees in 2019 and 2020, gets $1 million while in the major leagues and $150,000 while in the minors.
He was sprung into action quickly for New York, coming out of the bullpen to pitch two-thirds of an inning Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out one, walked one and did not allow a hit as the Yankees lost the series opener, 7-5.
A 39-year-old sidearmer, Ottavino agreed to a minor league contract with Boston on Feb. 18 and exercised his right to be released on March 23 after compiling a 10.80 ERA in five spring training appearances.
Ottavino spent the next week at a training facility in Florida, throwing to hitters and staying ready for an opportunity.
"I felt like I was kind of in a little bit of no man's land for the last week or so, but it all came together pretty quickly," Ottavino said before the Yankees' game Tuesday night. "Obviously I'm grateful for the opportunity. I'm very lucky for it."
He was 2-2 with one save and a 4.34 ERA in 60 relief appearances for the New York Mets last year, stranding 15 of 20 inherited runners.
Ottavino went 8-8 with a 2.76 ERA in 97 relief appearances in his two previous seasons for the Yankees. He is 41-43 with 46 saves and a 3.49 ERA in 14 big league seasons with St. Louis, Colorado (2012-18), the Yankees (2019-20), Boston (2021) and the Mets (2022-24).
"He's kind of on our board a little bit," manager Aaron Boone said. "I know the front office has been talking about him the last couple of weeks but felt like what he was doing at the back end of spring training was in line with who Otto is."
The Yankees transferred right-hander JT Brubaker to the 60-day injured list and placed closer Devin Williams on the paternity list.
ESPN's Jorge Castillo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
