Adam Ottavino was one of the Rockies’ most reliable bullpen arms during the past seven seasons. That reliability culminated in a dominant 2018 season in which the right-hander posted a career-best 2.43 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 77-plus innings.

But now, as one of baseball’s best available relievers on the free agent market this winter, his native New York is calling.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports that Ottavino, who grew up in Brooklyn and now resides in Manhattan in the offseason, is a target of Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who is looking to add a couple more strikeout artists to the New York bullpen.

The pitcher’s affinity for the Bronx Bombers, however, won’t be enough reason by itself for Ottavino to end up with the Yankees.

“I grew up as a Yankee fan, and it’s always been something that would be nice (to play there),” Ottavino said. “So it would be cool, but I’m not going to allow something like a preference of where to really dictate anything. I picked Colorado, which is far from home, and I loved it.”

Ottavino set a Rockies record for relievers with 112 strikeouts this past season thanks in part to a refocused offseason regiment that began with him turning a vacant commercial space in a Harlem strip mall into a workout facility.

The reliever is back at that same facility this offseason, and though he couldn’t talk hot stove specifics, he noted “a good amount of teams have been interested, but nothing is imminent by any means.” He said his main priority for free agency is landing with a club that’s dedicated to winning.

“It’s the second half of the career here, so I’m trying to prioritize that part of it now and be a part of something special,” Ottavino said.

The 33-year-old earned $7 million in 2018 in the final season of a three-year, $10.4 million deal. He also figures to draw interest from the Mets, as New York’s National League representative had the third-worst bullpen ERA in baseball at 4.96 this past season.

As talk swirls of Ottavino swapping purple pinstripes for navy blue ones at Yankee Stadium, there’s little chance that the right-hander ends up pitching his home games back in LoDo. Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich has said the team’s main offseason focus will be to beef up its offense. Colorado committed $106 million total across three contracts to relief pitchers Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee and Wade Davis last offseason.

Ottavino said he hasn’t personally spoken with Bridich about a new contract since the season ended, but also hasn’t completely closed the door on a possible return to Colorado.

“From my end, there’s always interest there,” Ottavino said. “It’s just a matter of how I would fit in with the other moves they’re trying to make.”

Meanwhile, the Yankees have plenty to spend, per usual, with both right-hander David Robertson ($13 million salary in 2018) and left-hander Zach Britton ($12 million, acquired in midseason trade from Baltimore) becoming free agents.

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