NEW YORK -- In the end, Adam Ottavino took the long road back to the Mets.

Ottavino signed a one-year deal to return to Flushing, N.Y., the club announced on Tuesday. The deal is worth $4.5 million, a source told MLB.com. The Mets did not confirm the financial terms of the contract.

Earlier this offseason, Ottavino declined his $6.75 million player option to return to the Mets, believing he could find a multi-year deal on the open market. When that did not happen, he decided to come back on a lesser contract. A New York native, Ottavino has pitched the last five seasons for Northeast teams and values playing near home.

Last year at age 37, Ottavino produced a 3.21 ERA over 66 appearances, including a 2.17 mark from July 1 through the end of the season.

He rejoins a Mets bullpen that is largely unchanged from last year. Edwin D¨ªaz will be back from injury, and New York signed Jorge L¨®pez to join its ranks. Those two, Brooks Raley, Drew Smith and Ottavino will form the late-inning core, while a slew of younger pitchers, Minor League signings and waiver claims will compete for jobs this spring.