One of the top relievers in baseball is reportedly heading to Los Angeles.
Former New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Díaz’s deal with the team is reportedly for three years and $69 million, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal sets a new average annual value for reliever contracts.
Because Díaz rejected a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, the Mets will receive a compensation pick after the fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The Dodgers will lose their second- and fifth-highest selections in the draft and $1 million from their international bonus pool, per MLB Pipeline.
Díaz was easily the top arm in the bullpen market this offseason, ranking at No. 11 overall in Yahoo Sports’ list of top 50 free agents and 16 places ahead of the next reliever.
The 31-year-old right-hander opted out the remaining two years and $37 million on his previous Mets contract in early November, setting him up to enter free agency again after winning NL Reliever of the Year honors for the second time of his career.
Soon after opting out, Díaz bluntly puts his odds of returning to the Mets at 50/50. We now know how that worked out.
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 like FIP (2.28), xFIP (2.49) and SIERA (2.18). He also ranked a close-second in WHIP (0.87) and batting average against (.162). Simply put, he was dominant, and every number under surface level backed up what fans were seeing.
That made opting out of what had previously been the largest reliever contract in MLB history — five years, $102 million — an easy decision for Díaz. However, the Mets’ return for that money also reflects the risks of giving relievers huge paydays.
The Mets got an incredible year from Díaz in 2025. In 2024, they got an iffy year in which he blew seven saves, lost his closer role and posted a 3.52 ERA overall while dealing with a shoulder impingement. In 2023, they got nothing, because Díaz blew out his patellar tendon while celebrating a win with his Puerto Rican teammates in the World Baseball Classic.
Three seasons: one good, one bad, one ugly. And now Díaz is three years older, increasing the risk at an infamously risky position.
However, you could also argue that WBC injury was a freak accident and that 2025 showed Díaz has fully overcome what was ailing him in 2024. When the potential reward is what Díaz did in 2025 or in 2022, when he won his other NL Reliever of the Year award, contenders will pay big money to have a pitcher like him on the mound to close out a playoff game.
This story will be updated.
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