The Los Angeles Dodgers have already named Edwin Díaz as their unquestioned closer after signing the veteran reliever to a record-breaking contract in free agency.
The Dodgers haven’t had a dedicated closer since Kenley Jansen in 2021, as even Tanner Scott was not fully granted that opportunity upon signing last season. General manager Brandon Gomes said at the time that Scott would get plenty of save opportunities but stopped short of naming him the team’s set closer to begin the 2025 season.
Making such a decision with Díaz isn’t necessarily about the team changing their philosophy when it comes to evaluating that role and bullpen structure, but more so has to do with his talent and fit with the organization.
“I think it’s more the opportunity to get ‘Sugar’ and add him to our mix,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “For us, we have a high bar. To name someone the closer, you have to be one of the best. You have to be elite and dominant at what you do.
‘Sugar’ is that, and I think watching him compete, seeing the selflessness in the postseason or in the last weekend of the year, ‘I’ll come in the fourth inning, fifth inning,’ whenever the game is potentially on the line.
“It fits in really well with our culture and the selflessness of a lot of our superstar players. So, so many boxes were checked in our mind. But again, just a very high bar to say, ‘This person is our closer,’ and ‘Sugar’ checks all those boxes.”
Gomes echoed that sentiment and also brought up the energy Díaz will bring to Dodger Stadium next season.
“As we were looking to add impactful players to what we felt like was already a championship-caliber club, we felt like Edwin was the perfect fit,” he said. “It’s somebody who is a selfless superstar and fits right into our clubhouse culture.
“He’s proven this time and time again in the playoffs he’ll take the ball in the fourth or fifth inning, take down multiple innings to finish a game, and it’s somebody we feel is exactly what we need. Knowing the impact he’s going to have is truly exciting.
“Edwin is somebody who has a long track record of dominance, and on top of that, we feel like he also has probably the most electric walk-out song in the game. We’re really excited to also see the bobblehead that comes along with it.”
Díaz has long been considered one of baseball’s best closers and collected 28 saves to go along with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings for the Mets this past season.
Dodgers celebrated Edwin Díaz signing
As the Dodgers neared an agreement with Díaz during the Winter Meetings, Friedman’s and Gomes’ excitement resulted in hotel security visiting their suite with a noise complaint.
The situation ended amicably once the Dodgers smoothed things over with the staff members.
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