The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired one of the best nearer on the free agent market Tuesday, reaching a three-year, $69 million take care of former New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz, sources informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jorge Castillo on Tuesday.
The deal by the Dodgers, who had been concentrating on bullpen assist this winter, set a mean annual worth report for a reduction pitcher.
Diaz, a three-time All-Star, logged a 1.63 ERA and transformed 28 of 31 save probabilities for the Mets final season. With an elite mixture of a high-velocity fastball and cruel slider, Diaz, 31, has posted excessive strikeout charges all through his profession. In 2025, Diaz struck out 98 in 66⅓ innings whereas strolling simply 14 batters.
The Dodgers went into the offseason with a transparent want within the again finish of the bullpen after their relievers mixed for a 4.27 ERA and blew 27 saves, tied for the seventh most within the majors. The state of their bullpen was so dangerous heading into October that the Dodgers used their starting-pitching depth to complement it, transitioning Roki Sasaki to nearer whereas utilizing the likes of Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski and, at occasions, Tyler Glasnow in reduction roles.
Diaz now solidifies the ninth inning, with Tanner Scott, who the Dodgers hope will bounce again from a disastrous first season in L.A., lined up as his setup man. The likes of Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda and Brusdar Graterol, the latter of whom is getting back from shoulder surgical procedure, headline what the group believes to be a deep crop of relievers.
“Getting a high-leverage reliever is rarely a nasty factor,” supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters Monday on the MLB winter conferences in Orlando, Florida.
Now that their greatest want has been addressed, the Dodgers are anticipated to focus on an outfielder, seemingly by way of commerce.
Diaz opted out of the two-year, $38 million assure that remained on the five-year deal he signed to stay with the Mets in 2022. The contract was thought of a uncommon five-year dedication to a reduction pitcher, but it surely ended after three seasons as soon as he determined to check the open market.
Diaz was tendered a $22.025 million qualifying supply by the Mets, which he declined by the Nov. 18 deadline. As a result of he signed with a brand new workforce, New York will obtain a compensatory draft choose after the fourth spherical.
The Mets on Dec. 1 signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal as an insurance coverage coverage ought to Diaz go elsewhere.
Diaz’s time with the Mets was marked by wild year-to-year swings. He posted an ERA beneath 2.00 3 times however in different years was at 3.45 or worse, blowing six saves or extra in every of these three campaigns.
Diaz missed the 2023 season altogether after struggling a critical knee harm whereas celebrating a save in that 12 months’s World Baseball Basic. The Mets acquired him in 2018 as a part of a seven-player commerce with the Seattle Mariners.
His 253 profession saves since getting into the majors in 2016 are tied with Raisel Iglesias for second — behind Kenley Jansen (334) throughout that span, in line with ESPN Analysis.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle and Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report.
