The Los Angeles Dodgers made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason by signing Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract.
The deal represents the largest average annual value ($23 million) for a relief pitcher in MLB history.
Díaz collected 28 saves to go along with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings for the New York Mets this past season. He earned a third career All-Star Game selection and was voted the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year for a second time.
Díaz’s presence drastically changes the outlook of a Dodgers bullpen that struggled with inconsistency this past season. He is expected to become the team’s first dedicated closer since Kenley Jansen in 2021.
Díaz also brings with him one of the most exciting entrances in baseball, headlined with the song “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet.
“Yeah, we’re fired up,” Edman said of the Dodgers’ reaction to signing Díaz. “He’s been my answer to the question, ‘Who’s the toughest pitcher you’ve had to face?’ So I’m really glad I don’t have to face him anymore.
“I’m excited to see his walkout at Dodger Stadium. It’s always one of the cool walkouts for an opposing team. So it’ll be pretty awesome to see it here.”
Why Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz
While the Dodgers splurged to sign Díaz, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained that the team hasn’t necessarily changed their philosophy when it comes to evaluating the closer role and bullpen structure.
“I think it’s more the opportunity to get ‘Sugar’ and add him to our mix,” 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.”
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