Three-time All-Star Edwin Diaz signs a three-year, $69 million contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a serious statement Tuesday when they reportedly locked in free-agent closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million deal, a pact that will carry him through the next postseason push.
At 31, Díaz is one of the most decorated relievers in the game. He’s a three-time All-Star and multiple-time Reliever of the Year, with 253 career saves and a 2.82 ERA. His 2025 season with the New York Mets was among his best: 28 saves, a 1.63 ERA, and 98 strikeouts across 66.1 innings. (NBC)
For the Dodgers, the signing fills a glaring structural weakness. Their bullpen finished last season with a 4.27 team ERA, among the league’s worst, forcing even starters into late-game relief roles during the postseason. Díaz gives the team a traditional shutdown ninth inning and lets the rest of the bullpen refocus.
The contract comes with a record average annual value for a reliever, at roughly $23 million per year.
The move also reflects the Dodgers’ broader strategy: build around elite, established arms rather than gamble on unproven bullpen depth. With their core of high-priced stars already in place, including their starting rotation and batting lineup, Díaz could be the final piece on a roster built not just to contend, but to dominate.
If he performs at the level he did last year, Díaz could restore stability to the ninth inning and give LA a closer worthy of their championship aspirations.