The New York Mets just made a thunderous move in the bullpen market, locking down Devin Williams on a three-year, $51 million deal - and they might not be done yet. According to reports, the Mets are still in on bringing back Edwin Díaz, their flame-throwing former closer. And here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Williams, a two-time NL Reliever of the Year, is reportedly fine pitching in a setup role if Díaz returns.
Let that sink in. One of the best closers in baseball is willing to take the eighth inning if it means teaming up with another elite arm.
That’s not just depth - that’s dominance. And it’s sending shockwaves through the rest of the league.
For teams like the Dodgers, this is more than just another signing. This is a wake-up call.
Mets Are Reshaping the Market - Not Just Participating In It
The Mets didn’t just grab an elite reliever. They grabbed the elite reliever available on the market, and they did it decisively.
Williams wasn’t lingering in free agency long. Once he came off the board, the entire bullpen landscape shifted.
And if Díaz re-signs? That’s two of the most devastating late-inning arms in the game, both wearing Mets blue, both ready to shorten games to seven innings.
This isn’t just team building - it’s market disruption. Suddenly, every agent representing a reliever has a new comp, and it’s a pricey one.
Setup men are getting rebranded as closers. Middle relievers are being pitched as high-leverage specialists.
The bar - and the price tag - just got raised across the board.
Dodgers Can’t Afford to Sit Back
Let’s be honest: the Dodgers’ bullpen has been a patchwork quilt for a while now. Despite the team’s perennial contender status, the relief corps has often been held together by savvy pickups, internal development, and a fair bit of hope. But hope isn’t a strategy - especially not when the Mets are out here building a super bullpen.
If Díaz heads back to Queens, the top shelf of the relief market is gone. The second tier?
Suddenly overpriced. The third tier?
Getting offers that look more like starter money. That’s the ripple effect of a team like the Mets moving aggressively - they don’t just sign players, they reset the entire market.
And that’s the situation the Dodgers now find themselves in. Do they move quickly and secure one of the remaining arms before the market spins even further out of control? Or do they risk being left with inflated options and tough questions?
The Stakes Are Bigger Than Just One Offseason
This isn’t just about matching the Mets. It’s about keeping pace in a league where the margins are razor-thin and bullpens win October. The Dodgers know what it takes to get deep into the postseason - and they also know how fragile that path becomes without a reliable bullpen.
If the Mets land both Williams and Díaz, they’re not just building a strength - they’re constructing a weapon. A bullpen that can lock down the final nine outs with two of the nastiest right-handers in the game is a luxury few teams can match. And more importantly, it’s a luxury that can tilt a playoff series.
For the Dodgers, the message is clear: the time to act is now. Because while the Mets are stacking arms, the rest of the league is scrambling to keep up. And if you’re not setting the market, you’re reacting to it - often at a premium.
The Mets aren’t just flexing financial muscle. They’re shifting the balance of power in the bullpen arms race. And if the Dodgers don’t respond soon, they may find themselves outbid, outmaneuvered, and out of time.