Red Sox Eye Bullpen Reinforcements as Edwin Díaz Enters the Conversation
The Boston Red Sox are in the thick of the offseason rumor mill, and while most of the buzz has centered around adding some serious pop to the lineup - with names like Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso floating around - the front office isn’t neglecting the other side of the ball. In fact, there’s growing chatter that Boston is seriously evaluating the bullpen market, and one name that continues to surface is Mets closer Edwin Díaz.
Díaz, a three-time All-Star with a track record of dominance, is arguably the top reliever still available. But let’s be clear - he won’t come cheap.
The recent deals for high-leverage arms have set a steep market. Ryan Helsley just inked a two-year, $28 million contract with the Orioles, and Devin Williams landed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Mets.
That’s the going rate for elite bullpen help right now, and Díaz is expected to command even more.
Industry insiders are already projecting Díaz to land the biggest contract of the group. ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that Díaz is likely to top the current market, while Robert Suarez could be a fallback option for teams that miss out. It’s a strong class of late-inning arms, but Díaz is still the crown jewel.
The Mets, meanwhile, haven’t closed the door on bringing him back. But negotiations haven’t exactly been smooth.
Despite Díaz’s status as arguably the best closer in franchise history, there’s reportedly a significant gap in talks. The right-hander is said to be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of five years and $100 million - a figure that would once again reset the bar for relievers.
That kind of commitment, especially for a 31-year-old coming off a major knee injury, gives even big-market teams pause.
Let’s not forget the context here: Díaz missed the entire 2023 season after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee during the World Baseball Classic. It was a brutal blow after signing a record-setting five-year, $102 million contract following the 2022 season.
But when healthy, Díaz is electric. He posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves last season and is just a few years removed from leading MLB with 57 saves in 2018 - a career year with the Mariners that helped launch him into the upper echelon of closers.
That same offseason, Díaz was traded to the Mets in a blockbuster deal that also sent Robinson Canó to New York. Since then, he’s had his ups and downs, but his peak performance remains elite. When Díaz is locked in, his fastball-slider combo is virtually untouchable.
If Boston were to make a serious push for Díaz, it would raise some interesting questions about the bullpen’s future configuration. The club already has veteran Aroldis Chapman under contract for 2026 after he signed a one-year, $13.3 million extension that includes a vesting option for 2027. Chapman, now 37, has shown flashes of his old self, but pairing him with Díaz would give the Red Sox a formidable - and potentially volatile - late-inning duo.
So, where does this leave Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office? They’re clearly exploring every angle this winter, and while the lineup remains a top priority, shoring up the bullpen could be just as pivotal. Díaz represents a high-risk, high-reward play - the kind of move that could either anchor the back end of the bullpen for years or become a cautionary tale about paying top dollar for relievers in their 30s.
For now, the market is still sorting itself out. But if Boston wants in on Díaz, they’ll have to be ready to spend big. The going rate for elite closers is already sky-high - and climbing.