How do NY Mets proceed in the wake of losing Pete Alonso to Orioles?
David Stearns has a huge task ahead after the Mets’ core has been disbanded following the departures of Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo.
Edwin Diaz donned the Dodger blue for the first time during his introductory press conference in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.
Afterward, the former Mets closer, who departed to ink a three-year, $69 million deal with the two-time defending champions, offered his gratitude to the Mets’ ownership, coaches and fans among others in an Instagram video of highlights to the tune of Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco.”
Here was Diaz’s message in the wake of his exit from New York after seven seasons with the team:
New York, New York. The city that never sleeps and that’s forever shaped me. Thank you for 7 incredible years in your city! Thank you Mets fans for the love and support you showed me over those 7 memorable years. It has been the biggest honor to wear the Mets uniform and sound the trumpets in Queens, NY. 🎺💙🧡
I’m grateful to the ownership, coaches, staff, teammates, and fans that my family and I met along the way. You’ll always be such a special part of our journey. Los Angeles, I’ll see you soon. Get ready to sound those trumpets in Dodger Stadium 🎺🎺
During the press conference, Diaz explained the thought process behind leaving the Mets in favor of the Dodgers.
“It wasn’t easy, wasn’t easy,” Diaz told reporters. “I spent seven years in New York. They treated me really good, they treat me great. I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization. I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win, so picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”
The 31-year-old has spent his last seven years with the Mets after being traded by the Mariners ahead of the 2019 season. In his time with the Mets, Diaz earned two of his three All-Star selections, a pair of NL Reliever of the Year honors and posted 144 saves with 538 strikeouts in 328⅓ innings.
After striking out 118 batters in 62 innings and finishing ninth in NL Cy Young voting in 2022, Diaz signed a record five-year, $102 million contract for a reliever but opted out of the final two seasons of that deal after last season.