ORLANDO, Fla. — Trumpets blared, but this time metaphorically to the tune of taps, for Edwin Díaz’s departure from the Mets universe on Tuesday.
The most electric closer in franchise history will not continue in Queens, after agreeing to a three-year contract worth $69 million with the Dodgers, according to industry sources. Díaz was a free agent after opting out from the final two years of his contract with the Mets, valued at $38 million.
A source indicated the Mets offered $66 million (with deferrals) over three years for Díaz that included wiggle room. The Dodgers are deferring $4.5 million per year on Díaz’s deal, according to a source, leaving the luxury tax calculation at $21.1 million for each year of the agreement.
“Since the deal is not official, I can’t comment on it,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said at the Winter Meetings. “I am very optimistic about where our offseason is headed. We have got a lot of work to do, but there are a lot of good players out there and I have confidence that we are really going to like where our team is once we get to Opening Day.”
Díaz’s departure is the second this offseason by a popular veteran Mets player. Last month, Stearns traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien. A third player who falls into the category of popular veteran, Pete Alonso, remains a free agent.
One factor that didn’t help the Mets in their pursuit of Díaz: the pitcher, according to a source, was unhappy with the organization’s decision to dump pitching coach Jeremy Hefner after the season. Díaz also may have been influenced by his younger brother Alexis, who pitched for the Dodgers last season and spoke highly of the organization’s staff and infrastructure, according to a source.
Díaz, who turns 32 in March, pitched to a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves in 62 appearances for the Mets last season. The Mets acquired him before the 2019 season as part of a blockbuster trade that brought Robinson Canó to Queens. Over the last few seasons, Díaz’s entrance at Citi Field to trumpets blaring “Narco” had become part of the pageantry. Díaz was twice selected to the All-Star Game with the Mets.
Stearns jumped into the free-agent market for relievers last week, signing Devin Williams to a three-year contract worth $51 million. Williams served as the Brewers’ closer during Stearns’ final seasons heading the Brewers’ front office. The right-hander struggled with the Yankees last season after arriving in a winter trade.
Stearns indicated his hunt for bullpen help continues, but he wouldn’t hesitate to enter the season with Williams as his closer.
“We are very comfortable with that,” Stearns said. “I have certainly seen Devin perform at a very high level for a long time and have full confidence he can be one of the best relievers in baseball. I think he is fully motivated to do that, and I look forward to watching him.”
Robert Suarez remains as a high-end option on the free agent market the Mets could pivot to. The Mets have shown interest in the right-hander, according to a source.
But Stearns did not discount the possibility that Williams will be the only big contract given by the team to a reliever this offseason.
“There are different ways to build a bullpen and we are going to explore all of them,” Stearns said.
Stearns — with a clear implication toward the negotiations with Díaz — was asked if given the Mets’ resources under the game’s wealthiest owner, Steve Cohen, he can be convinced to spend for a player beyond his comfort level.
“I think we’re always weighing how certain transactions fit into the larger puzzle of the resources we have,” Stearns said. “We have a lot of resources. No team has unending resources. We’ve got all the resources we need, all the payroll space we need, to put a really good team on the field, but that doesn’t mean infinite nor should it be.
“And so every decision point, whether it’s a trade or free agency, has constraints on it and we do our best work with them in the context of what is a very heavily resourced and supported team.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
