For months, a pocket of New York Mets fans has wrestled with the same lingering question: Why didn’t the organization fight harder to keep Edwin Diaz?
The star closer, whose thunderous entrance to the mound at Citi Field became one of baseball’s most electric spectacles, is now headed west after signing a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And while the move stunned many around the league, Diaz is now addressing the backlash directly, and even hinting that his time in Queens may not be completely finished. ⚾
Diaz Responds to Frustrated Mets Fans
Speaking to reporters, Diaz acknowledged the frustration simmering among Mets supporters who were shocked to see him leave after spending most of his career in New York.
“I understand the fans are mad with me because I left the team,” Diaz said. “But I have to make the best choice for my family and me.”
That explanation may not erase the sting for Mets fans who watched Diaz dominate in Queens for years. The right-hander spent seven seasons with the franchise from 2019 through 2025, building a reputation as one of the most overpowering closers in baseball. When Diaz was at his best, opposing hitters often looked completely overmatched by his explosive fastball-slider combination.
A Mets Tenure Filled With Highs and Lows
Diaz’s time with the Mets featured unforgettable moments and some difficult setbacks.
Perhaps the most crushing blow came in 2023, when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a Puerto Rico victory in the World Baseball Classic. The injury forced him to miss the entire season and left the Mets without their bullpen anchor.
Even after returning, the road included turbulence. During the 2024 campaign, Diaz served an automatic 10-game suspension following a sticky-stuff ejection, another reminder of how unpredictable the life of a closer can be.
Diaz won the National League Reliever of the Year Award twice during his Mets tenure, first in 2022 and again in 2025. His dramatic bullpen walkouts during home games became iconic scenes at Citi Field. The lights dimmed, the music blared, and fans rose to their feet as Diaz jogged toward the mound, creating one of the most recognizable entrances in modern baseball.
The Contract That Sent Diaz to Los Angeles
Despite his importance to the team, the Mets ultimately couldn’t keep their star closer in Queens.
According to reports, the Mets offered Diaz a three-year contract worth $66 million and signaled they were open to raising the bid. However, Diaz’s camp reportedly believed the team would not increase the offer in a meaningful way.
The Dodgers stepped in with a slightly higher proposal, three years and $69 million, and secured the deal.
There were also lingering questions about communication. Diaz reportedly did not receive advance notice that the Mets were signing reliever Devin Williams to a three-year contract last fall, though it remains unclear how much that influenced his final decision.
“It was hard to make a decision like that because I’d been there for seven years,” Diaz said. “So I spent almost my entire career with the Mets.”
But even as he prepares for a new chapter in Los Angeles, Diaz left Mets fans with an intriguing thought. “I’ll be there for three years,” he said. “You never know if I could end up again with the Mets.”
For now, the Dodgers gain one of baseball’s most dominant closers. Yet Diaz’s comments suggest that while this chapter in Queens may have ended, the door might not be fully closed.
