MLB’s offseason is yet to reach its peak, but New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has already agreed to a five-year, 102 million dollar contract. Díaz will receive the biggest paycheck any reliever has ever received in MLB history. The details of the contract include an opt-out after three years, a full no-trade clause, and a sixth-year option. Prior to Díaz’s contract, Yankees reliever Adonis Chapman was the highest-paid reliever in league history with a 5-year, 86 million dollar contract. 

In 2019 the Mets and Mariners agreed to trade. The Mets would receive Edwin Díaz and second baseman Robinson Cano in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce, top prospect Jarred Kelenic, and three right-handed pitchers. Díaz had a 5.59 ERA (seventh-worst among relievers) to start his career in New York after having a 1.96 ERA in Seattle the season prior. In the 2020 shortened season he pitched 25.2 innings with a 1.75 era. In 2021 he started to look more like himself, unlike in 2019, when he allowed 15 home runs. In 2021 and 2022 he only allowed three, and this past season was extraordinary, having a 1.31 ERA, a 0.839 WHIP, and an untouchable slider. 

Without Díaz, the team definitely would not have made it as far as they did. Díaz was at times the only reliable pitcher they had in the bullpen. If the Mets weren’t able to sign him it would leave a big hole since you can’t do better than perhaps the best closer in MLB. 

What is most impressive about Díaz is how he not only turned his career around, but turned it around in New York, the hardest place to play. He also took on an iconic entrance song, endearing himself to fans.

When you heard trumpets sound at Citi Field, you knew who was about to win the game. Díaz entered the field with “Narco”, played throughout the stadium by Australian musician Timmy Trumpet. 

On August 30th, Timmy Trumpet was scheduled to play “Narco” live at Citi Field for Díaz but the Mets lost 4-3 against their tough opponent the LA Dodgers, so Edwin was not needed for that game. Timmy decided to stick around in hope that Díaz would be used the following day. After “the catch of the year from Brandon Nimmo,” as play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen coined it, Narco was finally played live throughout the stadium. 

Another spectacular moment for Díaz this season was when he closed out the first no-hitter for all of baseball this season and the second no-hitter in New York Mets history on April 29th. 

Brandon Nimmo is the second-best Center fielder on the market this off season behind Yankees’ star Aaron Judge. Will the Mets re-sign Nimmo as they did Díaz?