The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, the top closer on the market, with a three-year, $69 million deal, ESPN reported on December 9, citing sources.
Targeting bullpen reinforcements this offseason, Los Angeles handed Diaz a contract that sets a new high for average annual value among relievers.
A three-time MLB All-Star, Diaz excelled with the Mets last season, posting a 1.63 ERA and converting 28 of 31 save chances. Moreover, his career-long success stems from a dominant fastball-slider combination, which helped him strike out 98 batters over 66⅓ innings in 2025 while walking just 14.
New York’s decision to let Diaz walk to Los Angeles isn’t sitting well with former MLB general manager Jim Duquette, who didn’t hesitate to criticize the Mets, considering the figure that the Dodgers paid.
“If it was a three-year deal and it was $23 million, not [$25 million], not [$27 million], not [$28 million], anything like that,” Duquette said during a December 9 appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM
“It was $23 [million]. And you’re the New York Mets. How is he not returning as a New York Met? Because, again, the thought process was, with the Mets, if things were equal, he would come back as a Met.
“Now, we don’t know the fallout of what the Mets offered him, but they were definitely in on him, and they went and got Devin Williams just as protection in case this happened. But looking at it just from the Mets’ side of things, I’m stunned that it was a three-year deal and the Mets didn’t get him.”
Dodgers Earn Praise for Edwin Diaz Contract
Moreover, after he was done criticizing the Mets, Duquette praised the Dodgers for the amount they are paying Diaz and the term of the contract, as the closer shores up a significant weakness on the team.
“[The Dodgers] didn’t have to go much beyond what he was getting paid,” Duquette added. “He walked away from [two years] at [$22 million]—that’s what he opted out of. He got an extra year and a bit more per year.
“That’s all the Dodgers had to do to land the best closer in the sport. That’s impressive to me. Maybe he wants to play for the Dodgers—they’re the team that wins championships, right? Listen, if you can’t beat them, you join them.”
Ken Rosenthal Talks Dodgers Signing Edwin Diaz
It’s another offseason in which the Dodgers make a splash signing. Moreover, it was a signing that MLB insider Ken Rosenthal didn’t see coming, but when it happened, there was no surprise.
“Diaz was a stunner, and everyone knew that the Dodgers were in on relievers, late-inning relievers,” Rosenthal said on the December 9 edition of “Foul Territory.” “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. 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.”
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