Potential Trade Targets to Replace Edwin Díaz

Following star closer Edwin Díaz’s devastating patellar tendon injury at the World Baseball Classic, the Mets are in a predicament regarding their closer situation for the 2023 season. They have a couple of viable in-house options with prior closing experience in Adam Ottavino and David Robertson, but they could use a true replacement from outside the organization to fill his role and supplement the bullpen.

The free agent market has run dry at this point in the offseason, so the Mets best option is likely to pivot and explore their options via trade. With that, let’s take a look at five potential closers the Mets should target on the trade market.

Alexis Díaz, CIN

What better way for the Mets to replace Edwin Díaz then with his brother?

Alexis Díaz burst onto the scene as a rookie for the Reds last season, putting up a 1.84 ERA and 1.0 fWAR to go with 10 saves in 59 appearances. He recorded spectacular strikeout numbers along the way, finishing the season with 11.73 K/9. The flamethrowing righty did a fantastic job of limiting hard contact as well, adding to an overall profile and repertoire that is eerily similar to his big brothers’. His control is a bit of a concern as he allowed 4.66 walks per nine, but otherwise Díaz has the makings of an elite closer for years to come.

The main issue regarding Díaz as a trade target for the Mets is price. He is still in pre-arbitration and is under team control through the 2027 season, meaning the Reds have no incentive to give him up without an overpay. The Mets have been reluctant to part with their top prospects under Billy Eppler, but SNY’s Andy Martino has stated in the past that the team inquired about him at last year’s trade deadline. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll double back, but it would make all the sense in the world and would be a natural fit.

Scott Barlow, KC

Scott Barlow has quietly emerged as one of the league’s better relievers over the past two seasons. Since the start of the 2021 campaign, Barlow has appeared in 140 games for the Royals and recorded a 2.30 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 10.20 K/9 to go with a 3.0 fWAR and 40 saves. Barlow is also a master of limiting hard contact and getting hitters to chase, which is a product of a lethal one-two punch with his slider and curveball.

Barlow has two years left before he hits free agency and is one of the more logical trade candidates out there. Rumors have swirled about a potential deal this offseason, but his value may still be a bit too high and it’s likely that the Royals hold on to him until closer to the deadline. Regardless, Barlow is a good fit for the backend of the Mets bullpen and is some worth inquiring about as soon as possible.

Daniel Bard, COL

Daniel Bard’s story is one of the best in baseball, as he was a key part of the Red Sox’s bullpen in the early 2010s before battling with the yips and retiring in 2017 after bouncing around the minors with a number of organizations. He then came back in 2020 with the Rockies and has essentially held down the fort as their closer ever since.

In 2022, he appeared in 57 games and recorded 34 saves while putting up a 1.79 ERA and 1.8 fWAR. The 37-year-old is among the league’s hardest throwers and consistently induces weak contact while primarily working with his slider and sinker, both of which are plus pitches.

Bard looked likely to be moved at last year’s deadline as perhaps the best reliever available before the Rockies shockingly locked him up with a two-year, $19 million extension. That shouldn’t prevent him from being on the market this year though, and his contract situation may even work in the Mets’ favor if they were to show interest in a deal.

David Bednar, PIT

Acquired in the Joe Musgrove trade, David Bednar returned to his hometown and has been lights-out ever since. In his two years as a Pirate, Bednar has appeared in 106 games and pitched to a 2.40 ERA and 2.57 FIP all while striking out 11.7 batters per nine. The 2022 All-Star, unlike the other pitchers on the list so far, is prone to giving up hard contact but has three dependable pitches and puts hitters away at an impeccable rate while exhibiting great control.

Bednar’s name has unsurprisingly popped up in trade discussions over the last few years as the Pirates continue to rebuild. It would take a haul of epic proportions to acquire him with four years of control left, but the Mets should at least look into it as he is one of the best relievers in the game today.

Kyle Finnegan, WSH

Kyle Finnegan’s name doesn’t typically come up in discussions of the top relievers available on the trade market, but there’s little doubt that he will become a hot commodity as the season inches closer to the deadline. Finnegan became the Nationals’ full-time closer last season after Tanner Rainey went down due to Tommy John Surgery and finished the year with a 3.51 ERA, 0.6 fWAR and 11 saves in 66 games.

Finnegan heavily relies on his sinker, as he throws it 78.8% of the time while averaging 97.0 MPH on it. His velocity is both a gift and a curse, as he has good strikeout numbers but gives up a ton of quality contact and is susceptible to the long ball. He does generate a good amount of ground balls as a sinker-baller though, and his control improved immensely from his previous two seasons in 2022.

Finnegan is a rock-solid bullpen option that likely wouldn’t cost a fortune despite having three years of control left. Interdivision trades are always needlessly complicated, but Finnegan may be worth trying for regardless as an intriguing late-inning option with an encouraging track record.