The Los Angeles Dodgers are at it again. The team gets in on many big-name free agents every offseason, and they always seem to add at least one.
The Dodgers won the World Series this year, but the lack of a consistent closer and bullpen arms almost cost them a championship. They don’t want to go into next season with the same issues, which is why they have been targeting New York Mets All-Star closer Edwin Diaz.
After weeks of courting, the Dodgers have convinced Diaz to come to Los Angeles. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, Diaz has agreed to a contract with the Dodgers.
Not only does it make them better, but it also hurts the Mets in the process, which is one of the few teams that spend at a similar rate to the Dodgers in the NL. The team has been looking for a dependable reliever for some time now, and Diaz is one of the best in the game.
He has been named the NL Reliever of the Year three times in his career (2018, 2022 and 2025). He finished last season with 28 saves and a 1.63 ERA. The Dodgers might have the best starting rotation in MLB, and now they might have the best closer.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Diaz is getting a three-year, $69 million contract from Los Angeles.
Dave Roberts Hoping for Better Tanner Scott Season
Diaz gives the Dodgers a reliable closer, which is going to be a big boost, but there are still some concerns in the bullpen. Tanner Scott was one of the big-ticket free agents the team signed last year, but he was a big disappointment in 2025.
He didn’t even play in the postseason due to his inconsistency. Manager Dave Roberts expects better things from him in 2026.
“I think if you’re talking about you know you know a place of where we could improve,” Roberts said at the Winter Meetings in Orlando. “I still feel that, you know, last year was an outlier year for Tanner Scott, not to say that he needs to be a dedicated closer, but I feel that he’s going to be much improved next year.”
“There are some things physically that he was dealing with, some that were talked about, some that weren’t. But yeah, I think that getting a high leverage reliever is never a bad thing.”
Scott Was Dealing With Some Unreported Issues
If Scott returns to form, the Dodgers have a lethal bullpen duo between him and Diaz. Imagine facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto for seven innings only to be met with Scott and then Diaz.
According to Roberts, there were some factors that kept Scott from having a good season that weren’t reported on.
“I just think that there were just some things that he kept under wraps about his body,” Roberts said. “And I think that the transition to LA and he just kind of thinks just anything that could go wrong went wrong. I just feel he’s just; he works his tail off. He’s too talented. And his track record was nothing like last year.”
“So, I just think it was an outlier of a season. There was some stuff that he just, honestly, something he never felt right all year. And there were moments where It looked right, he felt okay, but he just never felt comfortable. But he’s never gonna use that as an excuse though. And to have a regular offseason to kind of prepare for ‘26, he’s gonna be on a mission next year.”
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