Dodgers Sign Edwin Díaz to Three-Year, $69-Million Contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a significant addition to their bullpen, signing three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69-million contract. The deal, which was finalized on Friday, includes an average annual salary of $23 million, the highest for a reliever in MLB history.
Díaz, 31, joins the Dodgers after a decorated seven-year stint with the New York Mets, where he established himself as one of the premier closers in the game. The right-hander’s decision to opt out of the remaining two seasons on his record-breaking five-year, $102-million contract with the Mets made him a highly sought-after free agent this winter.
A Surprising Turn of Events
Initially, the Dodgers were hesitant to pursue Díaz, given their concerns about handing out another long-term contract to a reliever. However, circumstances changed, and the team’s interest in Díaz grew as the offseason progressed. According to general manager Brandon Gomes, the Dodgers “checked in from the get-go” but weren’t sure if they could land the coveted closer.
As it turned out, a few factors worked in the Dodgers’ favor. The Mets weren’t willing to offer Díaz a longer-term deal, and the Dodgers had advocates close to the pitcher vouching for the organization. Díaz’s brother, Alexis, who spent time with the Dodgers last year, and his Team Puerto Rico teammate Kiké Hernández, a longtime Dodgers fan favorite, both spoke highly of the club.
The Dodgers’ new star closer, Edwin Díaz, speaks at his introductory news conference on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A Winning Organization
Díaz cited the Dodgers’ winning culture as a major factor in his decision to join the team. “I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization,” he said. “I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win.” The right-hander also praised the team’s treatment of its players, saying that everyone is treated the same, regardless of their status.
The Dodgers are expecting big things from Díaz, who will serve as the team’s designated closer. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman emphasized that the closer role is reserved for elite and dominant pitchers, and Díaz certainly fits the bill.
The team believes that Díaz’s presence will elevate the rest of the bullpen, providing a more defined late-game structure. As Gomes noted, “It allows Doc and our coaching staff to kind of put guys into spots leading up to that, knowing that it doesn’t really matter who’s in the ninth, that we’re gonna like the matchup.”
Díaz is also expected to bring his iconic walk-out song, “Narco” by Timmy Trumpet, to Dodger Stadium. The closer said he’s looking forward to entering games to the electric tune, which Gomes described as “probably the most electric walkout song in the game.”
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