TORONTO — In Part 3 of the series on the main New York free agents, we dig deep into Edwin Díaz.
The case for Díaz
He was the lone Mets pitcher who stayed healthy and excellent throughout 2025. The Mets have to rebuild so much of the staff, notably the pen, can they really hold the line on Díaz, who they know can handle New York and the postseason? The most reliable reliever returning (assuming his option is picked up) is 37-year-old Brooks Raley, who pitched half a season after Tommy John surgery. And then who? Huascar Brazoban, who was a yo-yo between Triple-A and the majors in 2025? A.J. Minter (assuming he picks up his $11 million player option), who missed nearly the whole season with a lat injury?
Díaz may not be as popular as Pete Alonso at Citi Field. But he is pretty darn popular — the stadium still is elevated when Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco” greets Díaz’s entry.
It is hard to say that a player who missed an entire season (2023) has stayed largely healthy in a job that does not often allow that. But Díaz’s year-long injury was freak — when he tore his patellar tendon celebrating a Team Puerto Rico victory at the World Baseball Classic. His only other IL stint was due to a shoulder impingement in 2024 and he missed the minimum 15 days.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
