The Braves made a serious run at Edwin Díaz before pivoting to Robert Suarez - and now we know just how serious they were.
According to a recent report, Atlanta actually put a five-year offer on the table for Díaz, a longer commitment than either the Dodgers or the Mets were willing to make. That’s not nothing.
In fact, it’s a rare move for Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, who typically leans toward shorter deals with higher average annual values. Think one-year contracts like those recently handed to Raisel Iglesias and Ha-Seong Kim.
But Díaz, who turns 32 in March, wasn’t just looking for length - he wanted premium AAV too. Specifically, an annual average of at least $20 million, factoring in deferrals and payout structure.
And that’s where things stalled. The Mets weren’t willing to go there.
Neither were the Braves, despite offering more years. The Dodgers, meanwhile, landed him with a three-year, $69 million deal - shorter term, but likely more aligned with Díaz’s financial framework.
So what does this tell us? First, the Braves weren’t just window shopping.
They were in on Díaz, and they were willing to go to a place they don’t often go - a five-year deal for a reliever in his 30s. That’s a clear sign that Anthopoulos believed Díaz was worth stretching for, just as he did earlier this offseason when Atlanta made a strong push for Aaron Nola.
Second, it underscores just how aggressive the Braves have been this winter. The addition of Suarez, who’s coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons, gives them a high-leverage arm at a more manageable price point. And while he might not have Díaz’s name recognition or track record as a closer, Suarez has proven he can handle big moments and tight spots - the kind of guy you want on the mound when the stakes are highest.
This also adds some weight to what Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said earlier in the offseason - that Atlanta was aiming for a top-five payroll in baseball. At the time, it sounded ambitious.
Now? It’s looking more and more like a mission statement.
The Braves didn’t land Díaz, but they showed they’re willing to push boundaries to compete with the big spenders. And if the early part of the offseason is any indication, they’re not done yet.