It would be quite the counter to the Juan Soto loss of last season. And he would be quite the bullpen addition in his own right. So, do the New York Yankees actually have a chance at signing New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz this summer?
The answer, as always, is “maybe”.
Be it through rumor, wish, or both, Diaz has long been linked to the Yankees. It is customary for the Yankees to be linked to every star name that hits the free agent market, of course, and in light of the mixed season for Devin Williams, the team does need a closer. None are better than Diaz at that right now. But the desire needs to be backed up by the financial commitment. And on that front, the Yankees appear to be wavering.
Diaz Among The Very Best
Until recently, DÃaz was under contract with the Mets on a long-term deal signed after the 2022 season, one that included significant annual salaries of up to $20 million. That deal, however, also contained an opt-out after year three, which Diaz has exercised. And after also declining the Mets’ qualifying offer, he has now hit the market, aged 31, and at the peak of powers.
Unhittable on his day, Diaz has consistently produced some of the highest strikeout rates in the league across multiple seasons. Last season, he pitched to a 1.63 ERA across 66.1 innings, striking out 98 opponents and saving 28 games. It was a good comeback season after a down season in 2024 and missing the whole of 2023 through injury, but it was also no fluke. DÃazâs 2022 performance, with a 1.31 ERA, 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.90 WHIP in 62.0 innings, was a line that very few relievers have ever been able to match in the history of the game.
With the question about his injury recovery now answered, there exists no sensible doubt about Diaz’s quality. His fastball velocity (consistently averaging 97 mph in his peak years) and his slider whiff rate (44%) make for the perfect diet in late-inning arms. The Yankees will want him. The question is whether they will self-impose enough financial constraints to take themselves out of the running.
Can The Yankees Afford Him?
From the Yankeesâ perspective, the feasibility of acquiring Diaz depends on payroll decisions. The team has repeatedly carried one of MLBâs highest payrolls, peaking at $304 million last season, and adding a reliever with a large multi-year commitment would require room under their internal budget structure. The whispers, though, suggest that the Yankees want to cut payroll, rather than add to it. Hal Steinbrenner is not exactly clarifying things right now.
Despite at times lacking a fixed closer – and Devin Williams having mixed fortunes when given the role – the Yankeesâ bullpen in recent seasons has produced above-average results, relying instead on distribution of high-leverage innings among multiple relievers, including Luke Weaver. Acquiring DÃaz would represent a shift toward reallocating those innings to a single pitcher with a defined role. As the game’s best closer, everyone else could be bumped down one, reducing reliance on anyone and everyone.
Despite their relative fortunes, the Yankeesâ bullpen construction trends toward low-cost acquisitions who outperform projections. The money mostly goes to the starters and the hitters. Nevertheless, the club has at times previously committed significant resources to relievers when the quality is there. And with Diaz, the quality is unmistakably there. Whether they apply that approach to DÃaz depends on whether the Yankees place a market value that aligns with their current willingness to spend more salary. It would be a shame if they missed out on their chance at having their best closer since Mariano just because of the Ryan McMahon trade.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Can The Yankees Actually Land Edwin Diaz? appeared first on Heavy Sports.