NEW YORK -- The Mets made their first Major League signing of the offseason on Thursday, re-signing lefty reliever Richard Lovelady to a one-year contract.

Lovelady, 30, initially signed in June with the Mets , who were in need of left-handed relief at that time. He spent the next three months shuttling between the Majors and Triple-A Syracuse. On three occasions, the Mets designated him for assignment .

But Lovelady ended the season in the organization, allowing the Mets to sign him before the official start of free agency. He produced a 6.30 ERA in the Majors and a 2.08 mark at Syracuse. Overall, Lovelady owns a 5.35 ERA in 118 MLB appearances, holding lefties to a .660 OPS.

Back in New York, Lovelady will provide left-handed depth for an organization that lost its top two lefti

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