By Waqar Ali Shah, Sports Business Correspondent | December 09, 2025 | Sports
The Breaking News: Mets’ Star Closer Shocks Baseball
In a stunning move that reshapes the 2026 playoff landscape, the Los Angeles Dodgers reached a three-year, $69 million deal with former New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz on Tuesday. The All-Star closer’s departure marks a devastating blow to the Mets organization—and a power consolidation play by baseball’s defending World Series champions.
What makes this move even more shocking? The deal sets an average annual value record for a relief pitcher, breaking Diaz’s own previous record. This isn’t just a free agency signing. It’s a statement: the Dodgers are willing to spend whatever it takes to dominate for years to come.
Why Did Diaz Leave the Mets? The Contract Details
To understand this bombshell, you need to know the backstory. Díaz agreed to a $102 million, five-year contract with the Mets after the 2022 season, a deal that included deferred money payable through 2042. He had the right to opt out after three years.
That opt-out clause was the key. After a dominant 2025 season, Diaz opted out of the two-year, $38 million guarantee that remained on his Mets contract. By walking away, he essentially traded a guaranteed $38 million for the chance to maximize his market value.
The calculation worked perfectly for Diaz. By opting out and testing the market, he secured himself an additional one year and $31 million in guarantees.
His 2025 Season: Why Everyone Wanted Him
Diaz’s opt-out wasn’t a desperate gamble. It was a calculated move based on one of the best seasons of his career. Diaz, a three-time All-Star, logged a 1.63 ERA and converted 28 of 31 save chances for the Mets last season. With an elite combination of a high-velocity fastball and vicious slider, Diaz, 31, has posted high strikeout rates throughout his career. In 2025, Diaz struck out 98 in 66⅓ innings while walking just 14 batters.
Those numbers place him among the most dominant relievers in baseball. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings in 2025, Díaz led the NL in ERA (1.63) and strikeout rate (38%), as well as numerous ERA predictors such as FIP (2.28) and xFIP (2.49).
Put simply: he was unhittable.
The Mets’ Failed Retention Effort
Here’s what makes this sting even more for Mets fans: the organization tried desperately to keep him. The Mets, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, offered Diaz a three-year, $66 million deal with “slight” deferrals.
The Mets were willing to go to $66 million over three years. The Dodgers matched and exceeded that with $69 million—and crucially, they offered it as a champion organization in a prime market with the resources to absorb any financial risk.
More telling: the Mets had already hedged their bets. The front office signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal on Dec. 1 as an insurance policy. That move signaled they knew Diaz’s departure was a real possibility.
What This Means for the Dodgers’ Bullpen
The Dodgers didn’t make this move out of luxury. They made it out of necessity. The team went into the offseason with a clear need in the back end of the bullpen after their relievers combined for a 4.27 ERA and blew 27 saves, tied for the seventh most in the majors.
Despite winning the World Series, Los Angeles’ bullpen was a vulnerable pressure point in 2025. For the second straight offseason, the Dodgers are signing the top relief arm on the market. Last year, it was Tanner Scott; this year, it’s Diaz.
At $23 million per year, Díaz’s new contract breaks his own record for the highest average annual salary for a reliever. He will now slide into the ninth inning for the Dodgers, giving them the elite closer they lacked during critical moments in the 2025 postseason.
What About the Mets? The Fallout
For the Mets, this is a severe blow. Diaz’s exit leaves the team’s bullpen significantly weakened heading into 2026. The organization will now rely on Devin Williams to carry the load in high-leverage situations.
The other issue? Because he signed with a new team, New York will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round. While that’s something, it’s no replacement for an All-Star closer in his prime.
Adding insult to injury: the Mets spent $102 million on a five-year deal and only got three full years of performance before losing Diaz to their National League rival. A three-time All-Star, Diaz’s time with the Mets was marked by wild year-to-year swings—posting ERAs under 2.00 three times, but struggling in other campaigns.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for 2026
This signing represents a larger trend in baseball: the rich are indeed getting richer. The Dodgers, already a powerhouse franchise with significant financial resources, have systematized the process of landing the game’s best players.
For the Mets, losing a dominant closer to a league rival stings professionally and strategically. For Diaz, this move puts him on a championship-contending roster with the financial muscle to maximize his earning potential—exactly what he was looking for.
The 2026 season will reveal whether the Dodgers’ investment pays off. Will adding Diaz finally solve the bullpen equation for Los Angeles? Or is this another example of throwing massive money at problems without addressing root causes? We’ll find out soon enough.
Key Takeaways
- The Move: Edwin Diaz opted out of his remaining $38 million with the Mets to become a free agent.
- The Contract: Dodgers signed him to a 3-year, $69 million deal ($23M AAV).
- The Stats: Diaz’s 2025 was elite with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts.
- The Counter-Offer: Mets offered $66 million over 3 years but couldn’t seal the deal.
- Compensation: Mets receive a draft pick after the 4th round; Dodgers lose 2nd and 5th round picks.
What’s Next?
The Mets will now focus on solidifying their roster around Devin Williams and addressing other needs ahead of 2026 spring training. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have addressed their most critical offseason need and can now shift focus to other roster gaps—likely an outfielder via trade or free agency.
What do you think about this blockbuster move? Will the Dodgers’ investment in the bullpen finally deliver another dynasty? Share your takes below.
FAQ
How much did Edwin Diaz sign for with the Dodgers?
Edwin Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, setting an average annual value record for a relief pitcher at approximately $23 million per year. The contract runs through the 2028 season and includes a $12 million signing bonus paid upfront, with the remainder distributed across the three years (2026-2028).
Why did Edwin Diaz leave the Mets?
Diaz exercised an opt-out clause in his original contract, allowing him to become a free agent after three years. He opted out of the remaining two-year, $38 million guarantee to test the free agency market. The primary disagreement between Diaz and the Mets centered on contract length—Diaz wanted longer-term security, while the Mets offered three years with modest deferrals. When the Dodgers matched his annual value at $69 million for three years, Diaz chose the defending World Series champions.
What was the Mets’ offer to Edwin Diaz?
The Mets offered Diaz a three-year, $66 million deal with modest deferrals included. While the Mets indicated there was room to negotiate higher, they wanted to keep the contract length at three years. Diaz reportedly entered the market seeking a five-year deal, and when the Dodgers offered $69 million over three years without the same deferrals, Diaz opted to sign with Los Angeles instead.
Did Edwin Diaz have a choice to leave the Mets?
Yes. Diaz’s original contract with the Mets—the five-year, $102 million deal he signed in November 2022—included an opt-out clause that allowed him to end the agreement and become a free agent after three years. By declining the Mets’ qualifying offer and exercising this clause, Diaz became free to negotiate with any team in baseball.
What is Edwin Diaz’s 2025 performance record?
In 2025, Diaz delivered an elite season for the Mets. He posted a 1.63 ERA (best in the NL among pitchers with 50+ innings), struck out 98 batters in 66⅓ innings while walking just 14, and converted 28 of 31 save chances. He was named a three-time All-Star and led the league in multiple ERA predictors including FIP (2.28) and SIERA (2.18). His fastball averaged 97 mph with a 39% swing-and-miss rate, and his slider generated a 44% whiff rate—making him one of baseball’s most dominant relievers.
How does Diaz’s contract compare to other relievers?
At $23 million per year, Diaz’s deal sets a new average annual value record for relief pitchers, surpassing his own previous record of $20.4 million per year with the Mets. For comparison, the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott last year to a four-year deal averaging $18 million per year. Diaz’s contract reflects his elite performance and the premium the Dodgers placed on securing the best closer on the 2025 free agent market.
Why did the Dodgers sign Edwin Diaz?
The Dodgers signed Diaz because their bullpen was a critical weakness despite winning the World Series. In 2025, their relievers combined for a 4.27 ERA and blew 27 saves—tied for the seventh most in baseball. Diaz addresses the team’s primary need: a dominant, trustworthy closer for high-leverage situations. As a championship-contending organization with significant financial resources, the Dodgers prioritized stability in the back end of their bullpen for 2026.
What is Edwin Diaz’s knee injury history?
Díaz suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season. He has successfully returned to form since his recovery. While his fastball sits approximately two ticks lower than before the injury (97 mph instead of 99 mph), it remains elite. The pitch plays faster than its radar reading due to his mechanics, and his overall dominance—particularly his strikeout rate and control—has fully returned.
What draft picks do the Dodgers lose for signing Diaz?
The Dodgers will surrender their second- and fifth-highest 2026 draft picks, plus $1 million in 2027 international bonus pool money to complete the signing. In return, the Mets receive only a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round—significantly less valuable than what Los Angeles is surrendering. This asymmetry illustrates how desperately the Dodgers wanted Diaz and how the Mets’ failed retention effort left them with minimal compensation.
When will Edwin Diaz become a free agent again?
Diaz will become a free agent once more after the 2028 season, when he enters his age-35 year. There are no reported additional opt-out clauses in his Dodgers contract, meaning he will be bound through the entire three-year deal unless either side mutually agrees to modifications. This gives the Dodgers control over his services through the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons.
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