Mets Make Edwin Diaz Highest-Paid Reliever Ever

Mets Make Edwin Diaz Highest-Paid Reliever Ever

The clock struck zero on the 2022 MLB Season as the Houston Astros won the World Series. On the eve of free agency, the Mets wasted no time locking up closer Edwin Diaz. Steve Cohen opened up his pocketbook and made his closer the highest-paid reliever in the history of the sport. The Mets have a ton of free agents heading into the offseason but at least Diaz has been taken care of.

Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report the news:

Star closer Edwin Díaz and the New York Mets are in agreement on a five-year, $102 million contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. There’s an opt-out and a full no-trade clause, plus a sixth-year option. The best closer in baseball stays in New York.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 6, 2022

Diaz, 28, was definitely taken care of here. Not to say he didn’t deserve this type of payday, but the Mets closer got all the perks here. An option, a no-trade, and even lapped the reliever market. The previous high for a contract was $86 million given to Aroldis Chapman. Liam Hendricks had the highest AAV for a reliever at $18 million prior to this deal.

Diaz got paid but that man earned it. The trumpet man was lights out in 2022 tossing 62 innings while sporting a 1.30 ERA. This is the best closer in baseball. In 2022, Diaz led MLB in reliever ERA, strikeout rate, and reliever fWAR. Take that for data. Play the trumpets.

Jarred Kelenic is ready to help Seattle win a championship

One of the biggest names is already gone from the free agent pool this winter. Some other names that will be available this Winter include Jacob deGrom, Xander Bogaerts, Trae Turner, Carlos Correa, and Aaron Judge.

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