The Dodgers just did what the Dodgers do - make a big move, quietly and decisively. This time, they landed the crown jewel of the relief pitching market: Edwin Díaz.
The All-Star closer is heading to Los Angeles on a three-year, $69 million deal, setting a new average annual value record for a reliever. And yes, the baseball world is stunned - especially in Queens.
For Mets fans, this one stings. Díaz had hinted just last month that a return to New York was still on the table, calling it a “50-50” shot.
That optimism didn’t last long. Instead, the Dodgers moved fast, moved smart, and moved with money - the kind of combination that turns rumors into reality in a heartbeat.
Let’s be clear: Díaz wasn’t just the best available reliever this winter - he was the guy. At 31, he opted out of the final two years and $37 million left on his deal with the Mets after a dominant 2025 campaign that earned him his second National League Reliever of the Year award. The numbers back it up - and then some.
Among pitchers who threw at least 50 innings last season, Díaz led the NL in ERA (1.63), strikeout rate (38%), FIP (2.28), xFIP (2.49), and SIERA (2.18). He was second in WHIP (0.87) and opponent batting average (.162).
That’s not just effective - that’s elite, shutdown stuff. Díaz didn’t just close games; he closed doors.
And now he’s doing it in Dodger blue.
The Mets, meanwhile, are left with a compensatory draft pick and a whole lot of what-ifs. They saw Díaz as a cornerstone of whatever came next - a high-priced, high-leverage arm to anchor a bullpen in transition.
But the Dodgers had other plans. They saw a chance to add another elite piece to a championship-caliber roster, and they didn’t hesitate.
That’s the thing about L.A. They don’t just talk about getting better - they get better.
Quietly. Quickly.
And with conviction. This is a franchise that plays chess while others are still setting up the board.
Yes, Díaz had a few rough patches in 2025, but his stuff never dipped. The fastball still hits triple digits.
The slider still vanishes. And the Dodgers clearly believe they can fine-tune the rest.
For a team that just won the World Series, this isn’t a luxury move - it’s a statement. They’re not done.
They’re not satisfied. They’re reloading.
For New York, it’s another blow in an offseason that’s already raised more questions than answers. They lost their closer, their leverage, and maybe even a bit of their direction.
For the Dodgers? It’s just another Tuesday.
The balance of power in baseball continues to tilt west. And once again, the Dodgers are the ones doing the tilting.