The Dodgers didn’t just make a move - they made a statement. Earlier this month, Los Angeles added one of the game’s premier closers, signing former Mets All-Star Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. It’s a bold swing for a team that’s clearly not content with just making the postseason - they’re building a bullpen that can lock down October.
Díaz is coming off a dominant season, one that reminded everyone just how electric he can be when healthy and locked in. In 66.1 innings, he racked up 28 saves, posted a stingy 1.63 ERA, and punched out 98 batters.
Among relievers who threw at least 50 innings, only Aroldis Chapman had a better ERA. That’s elite territory, and it’s exactly the kind of late-inning firepower the Dodgers have been missing.
Over parts of nine big league seasons, Díaz has compiled 253 saves and a career ERA of 2.82. He’s been one of the most reliable closers in the game - not just because of his stuff, but because of his mindset. And during his introductory press conference with the Dodgers, he gave a glimpse into what makes him so effective when the lights are brightest and the pressure is highest.
“Pitching in the ninth is a big responsibility,” Díaz said. “The ball is in your hand for the last three outs of the game. I think they are the toughest three outs.”
That’s not just lip service. Any pitcher will tell you - the ninth inning is a different animal.
The margin for error shrinks, and the mental game becomes just as important as the physical one. For Díaz, staying in the moment is key.
“I always go batter-by-batter, pitch-by-pitch,” he explained. “I don’t think much about completing the inning, because a lot of things can happen in one inning.”
That approach - staying grounded, staying focused - is part of what’s made Díaz so consistent over the years. He doesn’t get too high after a save, and he doesn’t let a blown one linger.
“If I don’t have a good result that night, I flush it right away,” he said. “The next day I come ready to go again.”
That kind of short memory is crucial for closers. One bad outing can derail a season if you let it.
Díaz doesn’t. That’s why the Dodgers are betting on him to be their first true ninth-inning anchor since Kenley Jansen last held the job in 2021.
L.A. had hoped Tanner Scott could step into that role this past season, but injuries and inconsistency derailed that plan. Scott struggled to stay healthy and ended up leading the majors with 10 blown saves - not exactly what you want from your go-to guy in the ninth.
Enter Díaz, who brings not only experience and production but the mentality of someone who thrives under pressure. And while leaving New York wasn’t easy - Díaz spent seven seasons with the Mets and spoke highly of the organization - the decision to join the Dodgers came down to one thing: winning.
“I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization,” Díaz said. “I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win. So picking the Dodgers was really easy.”
That’s exactly the kind of mindset the Dodgers want in their bullpen - a closer who’s not just chasing saves, but chasing championships.
With Díaz now in the fold, L.A. has a late-inning presence that can match up with anyone in the league. And if he pitches anything like he did last season, the Dodgers just added one of the most dangerous weapons in baseball to the back end of their bullpen.