The New York Mets made the right decision by letting Edwin Díaz walk in free agency during the winter, avoiding a major bullpen disaster that has instead impacted the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2026 Major League Baseball season, according to The Sporting News. While the Mets faced criticism after selling players at the trade deadline and watching several offseason additions fall short, declining to re-sign Díaz has turned into an unexpected stroke of good fortune for the front office in Queens.
When Díaz played for New York from 2019 to 2025, his entrance accompanied by blaring trumpets signified an imminent victory for the ballclub. During that seven-season stint, he earned two All-Star appearances, recorded 144 total saves, and posted a reliable 2.93 ERA, establishing himself as a fan favorite reported by the New York Post. At the start of the current campaign, Mets owner Steve Cohen even described the reliever’s departure as perplexing, particularly after the right-hander commanded a three-year contract worth over $60 million from Los Angeles that featured a record annual salary total for a relief pitcher.
That lucrative investment has quickly unraveled for the Dodgers. Across 14 appearances and 11.2 innings pitched this season, Díaz has accumulated a brutal 11.57 ERA alongside a -1.2 bWAR, according to The Sporting News. He has already blown four save opportunities, including a rough outing where he surrendered four consecutive hits to squander a two-run lead. The veteran closer missed a significant portion of the schedule after landing on the injured list following an April 19 appearance, undergoing a surgical procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow noted by the New York Post.
Recovery and Potential Return to Queens
Díaz has worked through a three-month-long recovery process following his elbow surgery, beginning a minor league rehab assignment on July 11 according to the New York Post. During his rehab outings with Single-A and rookie-ball affiliates, he tossed four scoreless innings, striking out seven batters while yielding zero hits and only one walk. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that a final test for the right-hander involves pitching on consecutive days, which could clear him to return to the active roster during the team’s upcoming weekend series at Citi Field stated by the New York Post.
Since returning to the Dodgers’ major league bullpen on July 29, Díaz has pitched 5.2 innings across seven appearances, logging a 12.71 ERA reported by The Sporting News. Despite his struggles and initial reasoning that signing in Los Angeles came down to “looking to win,” the veteran reliever maintains positive regard for his time in New York noted by the New York Post. Fans in Queens are expected to offer an animated reception if the former closer takes the mound during the Dodgers’ sole visit to Citi Field this season.
Financial and Roster Impact for Both Franchises
The stark contrast between Díaz’s past dominance in New York and his current difficulties in Los Angeles highlights the inherent risks of long-term investments in relief pitchers. While the Mets’ 2026 roster has faced heavy turnover and a likely finish near the bottom of the standings following a sell-off at the trade deadline, avoiding a massive financial commitment to a declining arm has spared the front office additional payroll friction according to The Sporting News.
For the Dodgers, managing the bullpen workload around a struggling high-priced closer remains a pressing challenge as the team fights through the second half of the schedule. Whether Díaz can rediscover his pre-injury form and silence the growing alarms in Los Angeles will determine how the rest of his multi-year contract unfolds.