The Los Angeles Dodgers hit a home run at the Winter Meetings earlier this month by signing three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract; setting up a new AAV record for relievers.

The acquisition of Díaz provides the Dodgers with a big-time solution to one of their only glaring issues: Late game relief in the bullpen. In a recent appearance with LA AM570 Sports, Díaz’s new teammate and fellow Puerto Rican native, Kiké Hernández, spoke about his role in getting Díaz to Los Angeles.

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“I played a little bit of a part,” Hernández said. “I called Andrew [Friedman] and I let him know that the interest was legit [and] that the Dodgers were not just leverage and, you know, that we had a real opportunity of going after this guy and getting this guy.”

“In my mind, [he’s] the best closer in baseball right now and, you know, once I knew that the negotiations were getting real, I reached out to Sugar and I let him know that at the end of the day, you got to do what’s best for you and your family.”

Hernández made his pitch clear to Díaz and told him that he would not regret his decision to join the team.

“The one thing that I can assure you is that if you end up with the Dodgers, you’re not going to regret it one bit; you’re going to be just fine. Your wife and kids are going to be just fine.”

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“I told them the worst thing about the Dodgers organization is that they’re so far away from Puerto Rico and if that’s the only thing that’s bad about an organization, you’re in pretty good hands.”

Díaz hails from Naguabo, Puerto Rico, while Hernández was born in San Juan and attended high school at the American Military Academy in Bayamón.

“I just let him know, like, you come here you know you’re gonna have a chance to win year in, year out, and I think this is the peak of baseball. And as far as an organization, I think this, you know; we play in the big leagues, and the way that the Dodgers treat their people is the way that it should be everywhere.”

Hernández also made it clear to Díaz that he and his family were there to support him.

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“I just let them know, anything you need, your wife can reach out to my wife, ask any questions that you need to ask. If you have any doubts, it doesn’t have to be baseball. It can be apartments, whatever it is, just reach out, feel free to reach out.”

“Next time I heard from him was after I congratulated him for signing.”