Edwin Diaz reportedly had another offer to choose from before bolting the Mets for the Dodgers in free agency.
And it was from one of the Mets’ division rivals.
The Braves offered the All-Star closer a five-year contract, ESPN reported Tuesday, before Diaz ultimately accepted a three-year deal from the Dodgers worth $69 million — about $1 million per year more than the Mets had offered.
What separated the Dodgers was their willingness to give Diaz an average yearly salary of $20 million after deferrals, according to the report.
The Braves wound up signing another All-Star closer, Robert Suarez, to a three-year deal worth $45 million.
The Mets also lost first baseman Pete Alonso to the Orioles via free agency, and traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien earlier in the offseason. They also signed reliever Devin Williams and infielder Jorge Polanco to free-agent deals.
The Post has reported that Diaz, who will turn 32 in March, had been unhappy that the Mets made the decision after the 2025 season ended to part ways with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
“It wasn’t easy. I spent seven years in New York — they treated me great,” Diaz said at his introductory LA press conference last week. “I chose the Dodgers because they’re a winning organization. I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win, so picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”
Diaz registered 144 saves with the Mets, including 28 in 31 opportunities last season.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
