Edwin Díaz Opens Up About Dodgers Move, Responds to Mets Owner Steve Cohen
Edwin Díaz is no stranger to high-pressure moments, and this offseason, he made one of the biggest decisions of his career-leaving Queens for Chavez Ravine. After opting out of his contract with the New York Mets, the All-Star closer signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, turning down a slightly smaller three-year, $66 million offer from his former club.
Now, as Díaz settles into his new spring training digs in Glendale, Arizona, he's making it clear: there’s no bad blood. Just a new chapter.
“I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone,” Díaz told reporters on Saturday, responding to recent comments from Mets owner Steve Cohen. “And I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me. At the end of the day, I chose to be here.”
It’s not hard to see why the Dodgers were appealing. They're perennial contenders, they’ve got Shohei Ohtani in the mix now, and their bullpen just added one of the most dominant closers in the game.
Díaz, who notched a 1.63 ERA over 66.1 innings last season with a 0.874 WHIP and 28 saves, is coming off another elite campaign-one that earned him his third Reliever of the Year award. His 3.0 bWAR only underscores how valuable he was to the Mets last season.
Still, Cohen seemed surprised that Díaz didn’t return, especially given how competitive New York’s offer was. Speaking in an interview with Mets broadcaster Howie Rose, Cohen said, “I did find that one perplexing.
Not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision. Obviously, it’s a personal decision on his part, and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid.”
Díaz didn’t shy away from the topic, but he kept things respectful.
“I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership,” he said. “They treated me really good.
I don’t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I’m here.
This is a new journey for me, and I’m happy to be with the Dodgers, so let’s see how it goes.”
This move marks a fresh start for the 31-year-old right-hander, who originally signed a five-year, $102 million extension with the Mets before the 2023 season. By exercising his opt-out clause, Díaz bet on himself-and it paid off.
Now, he joins a Dodgers team that’s loading up for another deep postseason run. With Díaz anchoring the bullpen and Ohtani headlining the lineup, L.A. is once again looking like a juggernaut.
Cue the trumpets. Edwin Díaz is ready for the next act-and Dodger Stadium is about to become his stage.