When the New York Mets signed Devin Williams, there was a unifying thought. Pluribus anyone? The signing was acceptable if the Mets fully intended to bring back Edwin Diaz. While following Mets rumors have said they’d like him back, it seems like it’ll have to be on their terms.

According to SNY’s Andy Martino, nothing is imminent with Diaz. Furthermore, it’s no sure thing for the Mets to quickly pivot over to Robert Suarez or Pete Fairbanks as backup plans.

Where would the Mets go next if Edwin Díaz signs elsewhere? @martinonyc talks about their options on Mets Hot Stove:

“They’re talking to Robert Suárez and Pete Fairbanks. They’re engaged in the top of the relief market. They could go there. For the same reasons of David Stearns’… pic.twitter.com/CiivpxZ9Rn

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 7, 2025It doesn’t sound like the Mets feel it’s necessary to add another top reliever if they aren’t comfortable with the contract

It’s decisions like these, when presented the way Martino did, that can unnerve Mets fans. We gave David Stearns the benefit of the doubt that something was coming. Diaz was the preferred choice of many. Suarez and Fairbanks were understandable alternatives if the goal was to win with quantity rather than quality plus an extra dud.

Martino’s assessment of the situation feels like the team might be a little too confident in what they have right now. As loaded as the farm is with pitching, we’ve seen countless get to Triple-A and struggle mightily to the point where they become irrelevant prospects altogether.

The Mets do have a strong back of the bullpen, but there are questions. Brooks Raley is older and as good as he was coming off of Tommy John surgery, they need to be careful. A.J. Minter missed the end of 2024 and was out of action for the Mets early last season. He is proving to be far from durable. There’s also Williams whose role as a closer should never be secure. He is a far better setup man. Other than Diaz and Suarez, it doesn’t seem like the Mets have a move in them to shift Williams down the depth chart and out of the ninth inning space.

It’s not the current administration’s fault, however, this team hasn’t developed a truly reliable reliever in a long time. Was it Seth Lugo the “failed” starter? Jeurys Familia is easily the best and you still probably have a headache from him.

If not Diaz, Suarez, or Fairbanks, the Mets will still have a guy like Kenley Jansen to turn to as the only other potential true closer who’d offer any sense of satisfaction. It would feel like the Mets are going cheap, though. They could conceivably use the 2026 AAV they would pay Diaz (let’s call it $20 million) on a pair of relievers. Tyler Rogers becomes more realistic to bring back for two years or so at around $11 million per year. Invite another reliever of the same or close ability level and make sure the money is spent in 2026.

Stearns isn’t trying to win friends with his Mets roster decisions. Having already traded fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo, he’s putting his likability on the line (not that he probably cares) by sounding passive about Diaz. It doubles down if Pete Alonso leaves.