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 Díaz will be back from injury, and New York signed Jorge López 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.