PITTSBURGH — Adam Ottavino is coming back, again.
With the Yankees in need of a fresh arm entering their series Monday with the Tigers, Ottavino is set to re-sign with the club after being designated for assignment on Friday.
The Yankees optioned lefty reliever Brent Headrick to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday night to clear a spot for Ottavino, who elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment to the minors earlier in the day.
His re-signing was first reported by SNY.
Headrick has pitched well for the Yankees, including two scoreless innings on Sunday.
He has struck out nine over 5 ¹/₃ shutout innings in four games.
But after four-inning starts from Marcus Stroman and Will Warren this weekend, the Yankees bullpen had to cover 11 ¹/₃ innings over the last two days, leaving them thin entering Monday’s series opener in Detroit.
Ottavino, who signed with the Yankees last Tuesday while Devin Williams was on the paternity list, threw two scoreless outings spanning 1 ¹/₃ innings before being DFA’d.
The Yankees are expected to get more bullpen help on Tuesday, when they plan to activate Ian Hamilton off the injured list (on the first day he is eligible).
But in the meantime, the 39-year-old Ottavino represents a fresh arm.