Although a reunion remains possible, the likelihood that Raisel Iglesias has already thrown his final pitch for the Atlanta Braves grows slimmer each day. After a brutal first half of the 2025 season, Iglesias rebounded impressively, and that surge has made him a hot commodity on the free-agent market. With every day that passes without a new deal from Atlanta, the chances increase that another team swoops in and signs him.
If Iglesias does leave, the Braves will be in clear need of a new closer, and there aren’t any obvious in-house replacements. MLB analysts have already linked Atlanta to nearly every high-leverage reliever available, including Robert Suarez. Another name that may be gaining momentum, however, is former Mets closer Edwin Díaz.
Reports indicate that after opting out of his contract with New York, the 31-year-old Díaz is seeking a deal similar to the one he originally signed with the Mets. For now, his chances of returning to Queens appear to be “50/50.” If he does hit the open market, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal believes the Braves could be in position to land him.
Braves included among top potential destinations for Edwin Díaz if he leaves the Mets
Rosenthal noted that several teams would be in the mix should Díaz become a true free agent. Along with the Braves, he mentioned the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Tigers as strong possibilities, with the Dodgers and Giants also on the radar, though less likely given their West Coast locations.
It’s hard to argue against the potential fit between the Braves and Edwin Díaz, though cost could be a major hurdle. Díaz is a lockdown reliever and one of the few available arms who could genuinely improve on Iglesias in the long term. The fact that the Braves recently hired Díaz’s former pitching coach could also make the transition smoother.
However, there are significant challenges. Atlanta needs to strengthen its bullpen, which has multiple vacancies, but committing $100+ million—or close to it—on Díaz would be well outside the Braves’ typical spending habits. They also still have to address shortstop and rotation needs afterward. On top of that, because Díaz received a qualifying offer, signing him would cost the Braves a pick just after the first round—the same pick they recently gained thanks to Drake Baldwin’s ROY award—making the move less appealing.
At present, the odds favor the Braves reaching a deal with Iglesias over pursuing Díaz. Still, Atlanta could use its interest as leverage, keeping the Mets honest and potentially forcing them to offer more if they want to retain Díaz. There’s a point where signing him could make sense, and simply being in the picture could diminish New York’s negotiating advantage this offseason.