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The New York Mets have reportedly come to an agreement to re-sign Edwin Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Bob Nightengale was the first to report a potential deal. Our own Michael Mayer also reported back on October 12 that the Mets wanted to lock Díaz up before free agency began.
The extension has an opt-out after the third year, a full no-trade clause, and a sixth-year team option, according to Tim Healy of Newsday. If Díaz returns for his sixth year, the deal would total six-years and $122 million.
The new contract between the Mets and Díaz makes the closer the highest-paid reliever in the history of MLB. The old record was the five-year, $86-million contract between Aroldis Chapman and the New York Yankees. The Díaz deal, which carries an annual average value of $20.4 million, tromps Liam Hendriks ($18 million), Chapman and Kenley Jansen ($16 million), as well as Ryan Pressly ($15 million) in terms of annual average.
Díaz is receiving this record-breaking contract after a historically great year with the Mets. In 2022, he recorded a 1.31 ERA and struck out 50.2% of the batters he faced. Díaz was clutch the prior season as well, saving 32 games in 35 opportunities.
Not many had Díaz staying in Flushing long-term after the closer struggled in his first year with the Mets. After blowing seven save opportunities in 2019 and allowing 15 home runs in 58 innings, the trade that brought Díaz over was under fire. However, since the 2019 season, Díaz has been elite, cementing himself as the game’s top closer.
