{"id":7513,"date":"2025-12-02T17:04:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mets-edwin-diaz-pursuit\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:04:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:04:29","slug":"mets-edwin-diaz-pursuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mets-edwin-diaz-pursuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Still Pursuing Edwin D\u00edaz &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>On Dec. 1-2 the New York Mets took two notable steps in their late-inning plans: they signed Devin Williams to a three-year contract on Dec. 1, yet on Dec. 2 reporting indicated club officials continue to pursue a reunion with Edwin D\u00edaz. D\u00edaz is widely reported to be seeking a five-year deal, while the Mets have preferred a shorter, three-year commitment at top-market annual value. The Williams signing reduces but does not eliminate the Mets&#8217; appetite for D\u00edaz, who posted a 1.63 ERA with a 38% strikeout rate across 66 1\/3 innings last season and converted 28 of 31 save opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Mets signed Devin Williams to a three-year contract on Dec. 1, adding an established late-inning arm to their bullpen.<\/li>\n<li>On Dec. 2 Sammon of The Athletic reported a gap in talks: D\u00edaz is seeking a five-year deal while the Mets prefer three years.<\/li>\n<li>Edwin D\u00edaz posted a 1.63 ERA, a 38% strikeout rate, and 66 1\/3 innings in 2025, converting 28 of 31 save chances.<\/li>\n<li>D\u00edaz rejected a qualifying offer and has been linked publicly to the Blue Jays; other teams could join the market.<\/li>\n<li>The Williams signing lowers the urgency to re-sign D\u00edaz and makes a compensatory draft pick a viable outcome if D\u00edaz signs elsewhere.<\/li>\n<li>Mets still need at least two high-leverage relievers beyond Williams; several right-handed setup options departed in free agency.<\/li>\n<li>Williams has indicated he would accept a setup role if D\u00edaz returns, preserving roster flexibility for New York.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Mets entered the winter seeking stability in the late innings after an uneven bullpen performance in prior seasons. Edwin D\u00edaz established himself as one of baseball&#8217;s elite closers in recent years, and his 2025 season statistics reinforced his premium standing. D\u00edaz declined the team&#8217;s qualifying offer, which changes the club&#8217;s compensation calculus if he signs elsewhere; management must weigh draft compensation against on-field certainty. The market for high-leverage relievers is thin and expensive, with several veteran late-inning arms reaching free agency this offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Devin Williams&#8217; three-year deal gives the Mets a ready-made ninth-inning option if they choose not to match D\u00edaz&#8217;s term demands, and Williams&#8217; history of success adds credibility to that plan despite an uneven year with the Yankees. Still, the Mets face competing priorities: payroll flexibility, the desire to keep a proven closer, and the need to shore up setup depth after the departures of several right-handed relievers. Front office decision-makers must balance contract length and annual value against the probability of on-field returns and the potential loss of draft compensation.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>On Dec. 1 the Mets announced the signing of Devin Williams to a three-year contract, an addition that offers immediate late-inning security. Reporting by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted Williams is open to pitching in a setup role, a concession that would allow D\u00edaz to resume closing duties if the two sides reconcile. The next day, Sammon of The Athletic reported that talks with D\u00edaz have stalled over term: D\u00edaz is reportedly seeking a five-year pact while the Mets have preferred a three-year commitment.<\/p>\n<p>Those competing preferences drive the current impasse. From the Mets&#8217; perspective a three-year contract keeps long-term payroll commitments manageable while still offering top-market annual value; from D\u00edaz&#8217;s perspective a longer term secures elite closer compensation for multiple seasons. Williams&#8217; arrival means the Mets can function without D\u00edaz, which increases the leverage of a team unwilling to meet a five-year price.<\/p>\n<p>Still, club sources and reporting have left the door open for a reunion: Williams&#8217; willingness to shift roles and D\u00edaz&#8217;s own remarks at an awards event \u2014 in which he said a return felt roughly 50-50 \u2014 suggest both sides see a path to agreement if terms align. Meanwhile, public linking of D\u00edaz to the Blue Jays and speculation that clubs such as the Dodgers, Giants, Yankees, Tigers, Red Sox, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Angels could be interested keeps the market active.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>From a roster-building standpoint the Mets face a classic trade-off between term and certainty. Signing D\u00edaz to five years would likely cost significantly more in total dollars and commit a large share of late-inning payroll beyond the near term; a three-year deal limits long-term exposure but may be insufficient to land a player of D\u00edaz&#8217;s caliber. The arrival of Williams reduces immediate risk, allowing the Mets to either split ninth-inning duties or preserve budgetary flexibility for other roster needs.<\/p>\n<p>Financially, D\u00edaz seeking a five-year, $100 million range shifts the calculation: the club must decide if top-end closer value is worth multi-year commitment versus taking compensatory draft pick insurance by letting him sign elsewhere. The qualitative gap between D\u00edaz and Williams in the ninth inning remains material \u2014 D\u00edaz&#8217;s elite strikeout and ERA numbers imply higher win probability in extreme late-inning leverage situations \u2014 which argues for investment if ownership prioritizes bullpen dominance.<\/p>\n<p>The wider market matters too. If competing clubs with deeper payroll flexibility enter a bidding war, the Mets&#8217; leverage diminishes. Conversely, if teams prioritize shorter deals, the Mets&#8217; three-year offer could become comparatively attractive. The club&#8217;s stated openness to using Williams as a setup man provides a compromise structure that could facilitate a reunion without conceding full-term demands upfront.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Edwin D\u00edaz (2025)<\/th>\n<th>Devin Williams (most recent)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>ERA<\/td>\n<td>1.63<\/td>\n<td>Varied (uneven 2025 season)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Strikeout Rate<\/td>\n<td>38%<\/td>\n<td>Strong historically, but down in 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Innings<\/td>\n<td>66 1\/3<\/td>\n<td>Smaller sample\/fewer innings in recent year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Save Conversions<\/td>\n<td>28 of 31<\/td>\n<td>Experienced closer role previously<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Contract<\/td>\n<td>Seeking five years (~$100M)<\/td>\n<td>Signed three years with Mets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table highlights why D\u00edaz is the superior ninth-inning option based on 2025 output, but it also underscores why Williams represents a practical alternative. Teams often pay a premium for elite closer production; a three-year versus five-year gap can translate to tens of millions of dollars and affect roster construction elsewhere.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Players and reporters have framed the situation as negotiable rather than final.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>D\u00edaz said he would enjoy staying in New York if the right deal arrived, but he was unsure where the team stood.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Edwin D\u00edaz, quoted at awards ceremony (reported)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Reporting on the Williams signing emphasized the newcomer&#8217;s flexibility.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Williams indicated he would accept a setup role if the Mets brought D\u00edaz back, keeping options open for manager and front office.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Anthony DiComo \/ MLB.com (media report)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Analysts have noted the roster and financial trade-offs.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Sources told The Athletic there is a gap on term that has slowed talks, but the club remains interested.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Sammon \/ The Athletic (media report)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Terms, qualifying offers and bullpen roles explained<\/summary>\n<p>A qualifying offer is a one-year contract teams can extend to a departing free agent; if rejected and the player signs elsewhere, the original team may receive draft compensation. Closers typically handle ninth-inning save opportunities, while setup men cover the seventh and eighth innings in high-leverage spots. Contract term affects both payroll flexibility and the team\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s willingness to absorb future performance risk. Teams may prefer shorter deals to maintain roster agility, while players often seek longer deals for financial security. The balance of these incentives shapes winter negotiations for elite relievers.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Reports of a precise five-year, $100 million offer for D\u00edaz have circulated, but no official contract terms have been confirmed by the Mets or D\u00edaz\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s representatives.<\/li>\n<li>Public links to teams beyond the Blue Jays exist in speculation; formal offers or advanced negotiations with those clubs have not been independently verified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The Mets have reduced short-term risk by adding Devin Williams but have not closed the door on re-signing Edwin D\u00edaz. The negotiation hinges on term: D\u00edaz is reportedly pursuing five years while the Mets prefer three, and that split will determine whether the club buys proven elite ninth-inning production or opts for a slightly cheaper, shorter-term path plus draft compensation possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the market closely: if D\u00edaz receives strong multi-year offers from other clubs, the Mets may pivot to depth-building and accept compensatory picks; if other teams value shorter deals, New York\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s three-year approach could win out. Either way, the Mets still need additional high-leverage arms beyond Williams to secure the late innings.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlbtraderumors.com\/2025\/12\/mets-not-ruling-out-edwin-diaz-reunion-despite-williams-signing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MLB Trade Rumors<\/a> \u2014 (media report; Dec. 2025 article summarizing Mets\/D\u00edaz situation)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Athletic<\/a> \u2014 (media: Sammon reported on Dec. 2 regarding talks and term differences)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MLB.com<\/a> \u2014 (media: Anthony DiComo reported on Williams signing and his willingness to shift to setup)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Dec. 1-2 the New York Mets took two notable steps in their late-inning plans: they signed Devin Williams to a three-year contract on Dec. 1, yet on Dec. 2 reporting indicated club officials continue to pursue a reunion with Edwin D\u00edaz. D\u00edaz is widely reported to be seeking a five-year deal, while the Mets &#8230; <a title=\"Mets Still Pursuing Edwin D\u00edaz &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mets-edwin-diaz-pursuit\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Mets Still Pursuing Edwin D\u00edaz &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Mets Still Pursuing Edwin D\u00edaz \u2014 InsightSports","rank_math_description":"The Mets added Devin Williams but remain interested in re-signing Edwin D\u00edaz; talks stall over D\u00edaz's reported five-year ask versus the Mets' three-year preference. Analysis and implications.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Edwin D\u00edaz,Mets,Devin Williams,bullpen,free agency","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7513\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}