The rumors that Mets closer Edwin Díaz might return to pitch in a game this season have been officially put to rest. As Anthony DiComo of MLB reported on Monday, the team is opting not to risk anything or rush a return with the Mets so far out in the standings.
Díaz has made clear his wish to return all year, hoping he’d get into at least a game or two before season’s end. He’s been progressing well, and will continue to throw bullpen sessions through the rest of this month, DiComo reported. But given that he only resumed throwing relatively recently, and he’s still ramping his velocity and stuff back up to where it was, there’s no use trying to squeeze him into official game action.
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The Mets will officially have been without their star closer for the entire 2023 season. The 29-year-old had a career year in 2022, posting a 1.31 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 62 innings. He was set to have a chance to repeat that performance this season, but he injured his knee in a celebration during the World Baseball Classic.
Díaz’s absence is far from the only thing that’s gone wrong for the 2023 Mets, but it certainly made their bullpen depth thinner from the beginning until the season spiraled out of proportion. To David Robertson‘s credit, he filled in well in the closer’s role before being traded to the Marlins, a team in the thick of the Wild Card race that the Mets will face Monday evening.
Díaz should be able to continue progressing throughout the offseason and be ready in plenty of time for the 2024 season. A return to full health would be a strong first boost to getting this team back in the hunt.
