Diaz to miss season following WBC injury

*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*

   An unfortunate injury in the WBC isn't what anyone wanted. New York Mets RHP Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee on Wednesday as confirmed by Mets GM Billy Eppler.

   Diaz suffered the injury during Puerto Rico's celebration following a win over the Dominican Republic to advance to the WBC Quarterfinals. Diaz underwent surgery and has a recovery timeline of around 8 months, which would keep Diaz out of baseball activities until November, thus putting an end to his 2023 season.

   Last season marked the best year of the 28 year old's career. He made his second career all star team with a 1.31 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 0.90 FIP, racking up 32 saves over 62 innings pitched, split between 61 appearances out of the Mets bullpen. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the postseason.

   The 2023 season is the first year of the 5 year, $102 million contract that Diaz signed with the Mets just before hitting free agency in the offseason, making him the highest paid reliever in baseball. The Mets will now have to solve the closer's situation for 2023 with Diaz on the shelf.

   Eppler said of the Mets closing situation that "We built a bullpen that we walked into the year, on paper, that we felt was pretty deep. We have a good amount of guys that have a good amount of closing experience on our roster right now. As far as the immediate, that is going to be the conversations that Showalter, myself and Hefner have as spring rolls on. It’s going to get opportunities for other people."

   In terms of replacing Diaz as the closer, the Mets signed veteran reliever David Robertson to a one year, $10 million deal. He has plenty of experience closing games, coming off a 20 save season between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets also re-signed Adam Ottavino, who has a single season high of 11 saves in 2021 and has 33 saves in his career.

   The biggest external option for the Mets is Zack Britton, who has played for Mets manager Buck Showalter in Baltimore and has 154 career saves, with a single season high of 47 set in 2016.