MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 01: Edwin Díaz #39 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout before Game One of the Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 01, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets suffered a disappointing end to their season when they fell out of playoff contention after a second half slump and now they’re left to reconstruct the roster where they can.
Several notable players will be back to turn things around, including Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Sean Manaea. Others could be on their way out after reaching free agency, with Pete Alonso facing a consecutive winter in search of a long-term contract.
Edwin Diaz is also hunting for a new long-term deal after opting out of the remainder of his contract with the Mets following a stellar season from the mound. Though one contending team or another is sure to pay a hefty price to bring Diaz in to close games, there’s reason to believe it won’t be the Mets.
“I’ve been consistent from the start of the offseason in saying I’ll believe David Stearns will pony up huge money for a reliever when I see it,” MLB.com’s Mets insider Anthony DiComo wrote in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” thread. “That’s not necessarily saying Stearns won’t re-sign Diaz, it’s just an acknowledgement that doing so would break from what’s appeared to be a career-long philosophy: Don’t invest too much money in relief pitchers, regardless of who they are. Tack on the fact that Stearns has already demonstrated a willingness to be unsentimental, and it becomes clear to me that re-signing Diaz is no sure thing.”
DiComo was referring to the Mets’ surprising trade that sent long-tenured outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for infielder Marcus Semien last month. Though the move seemed to address a clear need for the Mets, it was made clear that Stearns won’t attach sentimental value to tenured players.
And if Diaz is able to negotiate a long-term deal with a team in clear need of a closer, like the Los Angeles Dodgers, perhaps the Mets won’t be willing to match it.
“And if everything I wrote above is true, I’d have to consider the Dodgers the favorite to grab him, if for no other reason than that they are the Dodgers,” DiComo added.
Given their seemingly limitless budget and the lack of trustworthy high-leverage arms in the bullpen, the Dodgers do seem like a strong fit for Diaz, who might be the best reliever on the market.
“While they have plenty of room to maneuver for a trade, the most obvious move is to hope the second time’s the charm in spending big money on a closer after Tanner Scott’s disappearing act this year,” as Jeff Passan wrote for ESPN. “Sign free agent closer Edwin Diaz.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2025/12/01/mets-insider-dodgers-are-favorite-for-edwin-diaz-with-reunion-unlikely/
