The Dodgers have locked in a deal with star closer Edwin Díaz, agreeing to a three-year contract worth $69 million, according to a source who spoke to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Tuesday morning. While the Dodgers haven’t officially announced it yet, this deal is basically in the bag.
Here’s the backstory: Díaz decided to opt out of the last two years and $38 million he had left on his contract with the Mets to test the free-agent market. So, this new deal with the Dodgers adds an extra year and guarantees him an additional $31 million on top of what he already had. Just to put it in perspective, Díaz originally signed a massive five-year, $102 million contract with New York before the 2023 season, which set a record for a relief pitcher at the time.
The Mets did offer Díaz a qualifying offer after the 2025 season, meaning a $22 million salary for 2026, but he passed on it. Because of that offer, if Díaz signs anywhere else (which he apparently has), the Mets will get a 2026 draft pick after the fourth round as compensation.
Now, as for Díaz’s performance, he’s been one of the best relievers in baseball during the 2025 season. He racked up 28 saves with a ridiculously low 1.63 ERA, along with 98 strikeouts over 66 and one-third innings. Among relievers logging at least 50 innings, only Aroldis Chapman had a better ERA (1.17). His strikeout rate was a massive 38%, second only to Mason Miller’s 44.4%, and he ranked fifth in strikeouts per nine innings at 13.3.
Díaz’s fastball-slider combo remained deadly. His fastball averaged 97 mph and got hitters to miss swings 39% of the time, the best swing-and-miss rate for any pitcher with at least 500 four-seam fastballs thrown. His slider, thrown at 89 mph, had an even better 44% swing-and-miss rate.
This deal also shows how Díaz has bounced back strongly after a tough injury. He tore a tendon in his right knee during a World Baseball Classic celebration, which made him miss all of 2023. Although his 2024 season had some ups and downs, the Mets leaned heavily on him down the stretch and in the playoffs, and he delivered big time. He was the winning pitcher in the Mets’ Wild Card Series comeback win against the Brewers, helped close out the NLDS win over the Phillies, and threw three scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS.
In 2025, Díaz kept building on that comeback momentum and even made the All-Star team for the third time in his career.
Looking at his whole career, Díaz has been one of the most dominant closers around over the past nine seasons, splitting time with the Mariners and Mets. Back in 2018 with Seattle, he racked up 57 saves, which is tied for the second-most in a single season ever, only behind Francisco Rodríguez’s 62 saves in 2008. That kind of performance is what led the Mets to make a huge trade for him and Robinson Canó in the offseason.
After a bit of a rocky start with New York, Díaz found his groove quickly. His best season with the Mets came in 2022, posting a dazzling 1.31 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 62 innings and 32 saves.
Heading into 2026, Díaz has notched 253 saves in his career, with a solid 2.82 ERA and 839 strikeouts over 519 and a third innings pitched. Only three active pitchers have more saves than him: Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, and Aroldis Chapman.
Díaz also ranks highly in strikeouts per nine innings and career strikeout rate among active pitchers. His 14.5 K/9 is third-best for pitchers with at least 500 innings, just behind Chapman and Josh Hader. His career strikeout rate of nearly 40% is second only to Hader’s 41.1%.
This new contract with the Dodgers is a big statement. They’re clearly betting Díaz can keep dominating the late innings and closing out games for a long time.