National League pitcher Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets pitches in the ninth inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game. © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
(New York, NY) – It has been a puzzling offseason for the New York Mets. And now, the team has lost its closer — to the Los Angeles Dodgers of all teams. Major League Baseball and its gutless, painfully dull structure is allowing the Dodgers to buy another championship.
Pro baseball has no salary cap — or salary floor. It means teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, and (future Las Vegas) A’s will never be more than placeholders in a schedule. The Mets have a high payroll, but also play in a largely bad weather city. Much like the NBA, it seems players like Diaz will just pick where they can get the (exorbitant) salary and also have palm trees. Reporter Joel Sherman has suggested the Dodgers offered just $3 million more than the Mets, so Diaz clearly had no intention of returning.
Diaz pitched well this past year, but did not help the Mets reach the playoffs, as he had a particularly inexcusable blown save in June against his new club, and later against the Rangers in September. He never won anything of note for the Mets and barely escaped his first season (2022) with his job intact — as he threw a consistently flat slider that was routinely tattooed.
Mets fans are understandably upset with the events, given Diaz played a key role for the bullpen. It also came on the same day that potential target Kyle Schwarber resigned with the rival Philadelphia Phillies.
President of Baseball Operations David Stearns may think he’s still in Milwaukee, given how he’s operating this offseason. His decision to trade away Brandon Nimmo made some waves, as Stearns has said he’s focused on “run prevention.” Hard to see how losing out on Diaz will help with that much. But there are still plenty of free agent arms available.
Of course Mets fans will be even more keyed in to the hot stove with a hope that Pete Alonso will return as 1B/DH.
