{"id":572888,"date":"2026-02-14T22:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T22:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/572888\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T22:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T22:06:18","slug":"dodgers-closer-edwin-diaz-responds-to-mets-owner-steve-cohen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/572888\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers closer Edwin D\u00edaz responds to Mets owner Steve Cohen"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Mets owner Steve Cohen said this week he found it \u201cperplexing\u201d<\/a> that star closer Edwin D\u00edaz left New York for the Dodgers this winter.<\/p>\n

But on Saturday, in his first media session of spring training, D\u00edaz made the decision sound simple when asked about Cohen\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone, and I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me,\u201d said the 31-year-old right-hander,<\/a> who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers that includes the highest annual salary for a reliever in MLB history.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Dodgers02\/13\/26: Former New York Mets relief pitcher and now Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during day one of spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Friday, February 13, 2026. Photo By: JASON SZENES\/ NY POST JASON SZENES FOR THE CALIFORNIA POST<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, I chose to be here. I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership. They treated me really good. I don\u2019t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

And, based on his early comments this spring, happy to be so.<\/p>\n

After the Dodgers\u2019 second workout of camp Saturday, the three-time All-Star praised his new surroundings, speaking highly of not only the Dodgers\u2019 talented roster but also a clubhouse culture that has immediately embraced him.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone welcomed me really good,\u201d said D\u00edaz, who cited \u201cclubhouse chemistry\u201d when asked what has stood out to him so far during his time at Camelback Ranch.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that\u2019s how they\u2019ve been so good. They have a really good clubhouse,\u201d he said, later adding: \u201cEvery player has a different personality in the clubhouse. They have different players from different countries, and they all get together and have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mets11\/3\/25 \u2013 Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden \u2013 New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his son Joshua Cohen sit court side during the first quarter.<\/p>\n

Photo by Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n

Cohen, the deep-pocketed Mets owner, made news this week when he told Howie Rose<\/a> he was surprised to see D\u00edaz leave this winter.<\/p>\n

Though the Mets reportedly offered D\u00edaz, a longtime fan favorite in Queens, $3 million less in guaranteed money than the Dodgers did, they were also believed to have wiggle room to go higher.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision (to leave the Mets),\u201d Cohen said. \u201cObviously, it\u2019s a personal decision on his part. and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid.\u201d<\/p>\n

When D\u00edaz signed with the Dodgers, he said the opportunity to compete for a World Series \u2014 something he has never won before \u2014 was one of his main draws in coming to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

And on Saturday, he reiterated that goal multiple times, looking perfectly at peace with his free-agent decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a new journey for me, and I\u2019m happy to be with the Dodgers,\u201d he said, \u201cso let\u2019s see how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dodgers\u2019 Brusdar Graterol might miss start of season<\/p>\n

Though Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol said at last month\u2019s Fanfest event he was hopeful of being ready for Opening Day this season, after missing all of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the right-hander will be slow-played in his ramp-up this spring \u2013\u2013 leaving his chances of starting the season on-time in doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing back from the shoulder, it\u2019s gonna take some time,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna slow-play him. Yesterday, he threw off the mound and still the velocity is not near where it\u2019s gonna be. So I think it\u2019s a slow progression. I just don\u2019t know where that puts us. It\u2019s a slow process for Brusdar.\u201d<\/p>\n

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