Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The New York Mets entered the 2025 offseason with a lot to prove following a season that saw them miss the postseason entirely. Despite New York fielding one of the largest payrolls in baseball, the team couldn’t overcome inconsistent play throughout the season.
And to make everything even more complicated for the team, multiple crucial players have now entered into free agency. One of those is star closer Edwin Diaz, and there seems to be interest in bringing him back, but at the right price.
Diaz has even spoken about his free agency, essentially saying that it was a 50 percent chance that he would return to New York. And now, we have even more reporting that may throw some cold water on a return to the Mets.
MLB insider Will Sammon of The Athletic has reported that the two sides were fairly far apart in neogitations, mainly on the number of years for Diaz. Diaz likely wants some security on this deal, and he has more than earned that right.
“Contract length is a sticking point in talks between Díaz and the Mets, league sources said,” wrote Sammon. “Díaz, who is entering his age-32 season, wants the same kind of deal he signed with the Mets in November 2022, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal previously reported: five years, $102 million. Meanwhile, the Mets are inclined to prefer something shorter, perhaps three years.
In 62 games this past season for New York, Diaz posted an ERA of 1.63, while also recording 28 saves. Overall, the Mets can’t afford to lose his services, but it seems that negotiations haven’t been going very well.
Diaz is expected to command a very lucrative contract on the open market, and if he doesn’t return to the Mets, there are plenty of other teams interested in him. The veteran closer has been one of the better relief pitchers in baseball over the years, and any team could use his services to be a shutdown reliever for games.
This is just a prediction, NOT a report!
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If the Mets and Diaz can’t come to an agreement, this would open the door for another team to strike. One team that could be interested in his services is the Chicago Cubs, who are coming off a playoff appearance this past season.
Chicago has long needed a shutdown arm for late-game situations, and Diaz could be the perfect person to take over. The Cubs want to remain competitive this coming season, so adding someone like Diaz to the bullpen could be a major game-changer.
The veteran could take over as the leading man in the bullpen for this team, while also helping to make one National League squad weaker in the process. Chicago wouldn’t have to worry about the late-game moments any longer, and Diaz could be the reliable arm needed for a deep playoff run next season.
Overall, Diaz needs to find a contending team if he isn’t heading back to New York. This could be a strong pairing all around, with each side getting what they want in the process.