SPN reported on December 9 that the Los Angeles Dodgers made a major offseason splash, landing the premier closer on the free-agent market. According to sources, the Dodgers agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract with former New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz.
Los Angeles entered the winter focused on upgrading the bullpen, and the Diaz contract immediately set a new standard for relievers in terms of average annual value. The move signaled how serious the Dodgers were about fixing their late-inning problems after a disappointing showing from the bullpen last season.
Diaz is coming off an outstanding year with the Mets. Over 66⅓ innings, he walked just 14 batters while striking out 98 hitters. He successfully closed out 28 of 31 save opportunities and posted a dominant 1.63 ERA, reaffirming his status as one of the game’s elite closers. His decision to head west leaves a significant void at the back end of the Mets’ bullpen.
With reports of Diaz’s departure making the rounds, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed the situation while speaking with SNY on December 9. Stearns declined to comment directly on the deal, emphasizing that nothing had yet been finalized.
“I’ve certainly seen the reporting, but because it’s not official, I can’t comment on it at this point,” Stearns said. “Certainly understand there’s going to be a lot of questions, but at this point I’ve got to stay pretty mum on it.”
David Stearns Sends Message to Mets Fans
Although Stearns avoided discussing the reported Diaz agreement, the SNY panel asked him to speak directly to Mets fans, many of whom could be feeling uneasy about the team’s direction with a popular and productive closer leaving in free agency.
“We are very optimistic and confident about where our organization is headed,” Stearns said. “We have tremendous ownership support, strong top-end talent at the major league level, and one of the best farm systems in baseball. When you add it all up, we are moving in an outstanding direction.”
Stearns also acknowledged the frustrations felt by the fan base after the way the season ended.
“I understand that our fan base is frustrated with how our season ended last year. We didn’t meet our expectations and have to do better,” he said. “I also understand the attachment to players who have been here and performed for a long time. We take that into account when making decisions.”
According to Stearns, the Mets are trying to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability.
“We also have to make choices that allow us to compete now while fitting into future years, where we want to consistently have a World Series-caliber team and organization,” he explained. “Sometimes that requires tough, uncomfortable decisions, and we’ve made a few this offseason.”
Ken Rosenthal Talks Dodgers Signing Edwin Diaz
On December 9, the biggest story around Major League Baseball centered on the Dodgers making a bold financial commitment to a closer they believe can finally stabilize the ninth inning.
Los Angeles entered the offseason with a clear weakness to address. The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled mightily last season, finishing with a 4.27 ERA and blowing 27 saves, among the worst marks in MLB.
Appearing on the December 9 edition of “Foul Territory,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal admitted the Diaz deal caught him off guard.
“Diaz was a stunner, and everyone knew that the Dodgers were in on relievers, late-inning relievers,” Rosenthal said. “But the feeling was that only on a one-year deal or short term, they wouldn’t necessarily want a qualifying offer guy, lose two draft picks.
“Well, they went to three years,” he added. “They lost two draft picks and a million dollars in international bonus money, and they’re acting like the Dodgers always act. We probably shouldn’t have been surprised by any of this.”