*Photo from The Athletic*
The sounds of trumpets will continue to blare through the Citi Field speakers. The New York Mets and RHP Edwin Diaz have agreed to a 5 year, $102 million deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The Mets have confirmed.
Diaz officially hit free agency on Sunday after the Houston Astros emerged as World Series champions. It did not take long for the Mets to scoop him back up, as free agents are not able to negotiate with other teams until Thursday. Thus, one of baseball's best closers is back in Queens, for quite the salary.
The 5 year, $102 million deal given out by the Mets is the biggest given to a reliever in baseball history, just surpassing the contracts given to Liam Hendriks and Aroldis Chapman. Diaz has an opt out after the 2025 season and a full no trade clause. The Mets also have a team option for the 2028 season that could push the deal to 6 years and $122 million.
Last season was one of Diaz's best seasons in the bigs. He ended the season with a 3-1 record to go with a 1.31 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 0.90 FIP, notching 32 saves and striking out 118 hitters in 62 innings pitched, making 61 relief appearances and making the NL All Star team.
Across 7 big league seasons with the Mets and Seattle Mariners, Diaz has a 2.93 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 2.55 FIP, striking out 657 hitters while picking up 205 saves in 399 1/3 innings pitched across 404 relief appearances. Diaz's single season high for saves is 57, set in 2018 with the Mariners.
After that dominant 2018 season, Diaz was dealt to the Mets along with Robinson Cano in a massive 7 player trade. He had a dismal 2019, authoring a 5.59 ERA and 4.51 FIP despite 26 saves. He blew 7 saves and had 7 losses to his name that year.
The 28 year old Diaz then rebounded in 2020 and 2021 before his breakout in 2022, notching 32 saves for the second year in a row, throwing 62 innings in both seasons. Diaz was selected in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft by the Mariners, and made his debut with a 18 save season in 49 appearances in 2016.
The signing of Diaz crosses one item off the Mets bucket list this offseason. They have key free agents to re-sign that include Jacob Degrom, Brandon Nimmo, Seth Lugo, and Trevor May, with Adam Ottavino, Joely Rodriguez, Trevor Williams, and Tyler Naquin also now on the open market.
Comments
Post a Comment