The Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning two-time World Sequence champions, have landed the highest nearer on the free-agent market. Righty Edwin Díaz will be a part of Los Angeles on a three-year contract value $69 million, CBS Sports activities has confirmed. The workforce has not but introduced the signing.
The bullpen was a sore spot for the Dodgers all yr in 2025, with Tanner Scott, final offseason’s high-priced bullpen pickup, proving unreliable and residential run susceptible. Roki Sasaki was the workforce’s major nearer within the postseason, although when push got here to shove in Recreation 7 of the World Sequence, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was requested to get the ultimate eight outs on zero days’ relaxation (spoiler alert: it labored).
Díaz will, in concept, give the Dodgers a extra steady hand within the ninth inning. L.A.’s bullpen presently appears to be like like this in the mean time:
At $23 million per yr, Díaz’s new contract breaks his personal file for the very best common annual wage for a reliever. He averaged $20.4 million a yr on his earlier take care of the New York Mets. No different reliever has crossed the $20 million per yr threshold but. Houston Astros nearer Josh Hader has the very best non-Díaz common wage at $19 million yearly.
Díaz, 32 in March, walked away from two years and $38 million when he used an decide out in his contract with the Mets to check free company. We ranked Díaz because the Fifteenth-best free agent out there this offseason, and the very best free-agent reliever. Here is the write-up:
Díaz’s second season again from the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered throughout the 2023 World Baseball Traditional went higher than the first. His fastball continues to be down two ticks from earlier than, however that simply means it is 97 mph as a substitute of 99 mph. Moreover, the heater performs quicker than that due to how far he will get down the mound, creating greater than seven ft of separation from his launch level to the pitching rubber. Díaz’s slider stays elite, with opponents hitting simply .179 in opposition to it with a .269 slugging share and a 44% whiff fee. He will get paid extraordinarily nicely for a reliever once more and he ought to stay a well-above-average nearer for a minimum of a number of extra seasons.
This previous season Díaz, a three-time All-Star, went 28 for 31 in save probabilities and threw 66 ⅓ innings with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts. He excels on the two belongings you need from a late-inning reliever: strikeouts and limiting house runs. Since 2021, Díaz has allowed 17 house runs in 244 ⅔ innings, or one each 14 innings, give or take.
The Mets signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract final month. The membership reportedly maintained curiosity in Díaz even after bringing in Williams, although now it is fairly nicely set in stone Williams will take over closing duties. With or with out Díaz, the Mets wanted to enhance their bullpen this winter. That also figures to be a high precedence the remainder of the best way.
Díaz declined the $22.025 million qualifying supply final month. The Dodgers will give up their second- and fifth-highest 2026 draft picks, plus $1 million in 2027 worldwide bonus pool cash, to finish the signing. The Mets will obtain a compensation draft decide after the fourth spherical for dropping Díaz.
