The Mets trumpeted the beginning of their offseason Sunday by locking up considered one of their very own.
Simply 4 days earlier than free company formally begins — and all 30 groups might have taken a run at Edwin Diaz — the Mets agreed to deliver again their nearer on a five-year, $102 million deal, The Put up’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman confirmed Sunday. The deal features a $12 million signing bonus, a sixth-year choice and an opt-out after three years, plus a full no-trade clause by the opt-out yr.
The contract is a file for a reliever, surpassing the five-year, $86 million deal Aroldis Chapman signed with the Yankees in 2016. The typical annual worth of $20.4 million additionally exceeds Liam Hendriks’ reliever file of $18 million, set in his 2021 take care of the White Sox.
Diaz is coming off arguably probably the most dominant season of any reliever, by which he recorded a 1.31 ERA and 118 strikeouts throughout 62 innings. He had 32 saves in 35 probabilities, with no blown saves over the ultimate 4 months of the season. Within the course of, he additionally turned a fan favourite together with his common entrance music, “Narco,” which led to a dwell efficiency from Timmy Trumpet at Citi Discipline for considered one of Diaz’s appearances in August.
The hard-throwing right-hander, who pairs an electrical fastball with a nasty slider, will flip 29 in March. He was a crucial participant for the Mets to deliver again, particularly as a result of Drew Smith is the one different surefire reliever they've underneath contract for subsequent season.
Diaz had been vocal about his curiosity in staying in New York, saying after the Mets have been eradicated by the Padres within the NL wild-card spherical, “I hope the group comes fast to me to speak.”
The Mets adopted by and made positive the 29 different golf equipment have been by no means in a position to speak numbers with Diaz as soon as free company opens at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Whereas Diaz is now dedicated to staying in New York, he didn't arrive right here by alternative. He came visiting in a blockbuster 2018 commerce from the Mariners with Robinson Cano for prime prospect Jarred Kelenic, amongst others. Diaz then had a brutal introduction to Queens in 2019, posting a 5.59 ERA with 26 saves in 33 probabilities.
However his turnaround proved to be one of many higher ones in latest New York sports activities historical past. He registered a 1.75 ERA throughout the COVID-shortened 2020 season, then proved it was not a fluke with a strong 2021 marketing campaign, which he completed with a 3.45 ERA and 32 saves in 38 probabilities.
Diaz’s stroll yr with the Mets, although, was on a completely completely different degree. He emerged as a shutdown weapon for supervisor Buck Showalter and helped the Mets by being open to pitching the eighth innings at instances if the scenario known as for it. By permitting simply 34 hits and 18 walks, his WHIP of 0.84 was the second-lowest of his profession behind solely 2018 with the Mariners (0.79), his solely All-Star season previous to 2022.
Getting Diaz’s future wrapped up will enable the Mets to show their consideration to different areas this week as free company begins. Their different in-house free brokers embody Jacob deGrom, Brandon Nimmo, Taijuan Walker, Chris Bassitt (who's declining a $19 million mutual choice and can hit the open market), Adam Ottavino and Seth Lugo.
The Mets are anticipated to have loads of competitors for these gamers, however they made positive Diaz by no means obtained away. He formally turned a free agent at 9 a.m. Sunday, however by the tip of the day, he had agreed to a brand new take care of the Mets to make sure he's right here to remain.
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