Some offseason decisions feel inevitable long before they become official, and the New York Mets learned that firsthand on Tuesday. Edwin Diaz had a qualifying offer in front of him, a safety net for the club and a one-year guarantee for the pitcher, but it never felt like something he would accept. He’s earned the chance to explore the open market again, and now he’ll do just that.
A Familiar Choice With Major Implications
In truth, the Mets knew this was coming. The qualifying offer was a formality more than anything, a procedural step that ensured a compensatory draft pick if Diaz chooses to sign with another team. Even so, it marks a real moment for the Mets, who suddenly find themselves competing with the rest of the league for their own star closer.
Diaz’s situation is unusual because he carried both security and upside. He had two years left on the five-year, $102 million contract he signed before the 2023 season, but the opt-out clause built into the deal gave him a major decision to make after 2025. He chose the open road, betting that teams desperate for bullpen stability will stretch to give him another long-term pact. Given what he just did on the mound, it’s hard to doubt that calculation.
How Diaz Reclaimed His Dominance
It’s almost strange to describe Diaz’s performance as anything less than elite, yet the first few weeks of 2025 really did raise some eyebrows. His velocity was down, the command looked shaky, and it seemed as if the Mets were staring at the kind of early-season mess that can sink a bullpen. Instead, Diaz recalibrated and finished with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts, numbers that still stack up with the very best late-inning arms in baseball.
Those numbers, combined with his track record and sheer electricity, make him one of the most coveted free agents on the market. For a Mets team that desperately needs relief help, letting him walk would feel like a step backward. At the same time, retaining him won’t be cheap. Plenty of contenders are circling, and they know how rare it is to acquire a reliever who can legitimately shift the balance of a postseason series.
What Comes Next for the Mets
The Mets remain the favorite for now, if only because they’ve invested in Diaz already and understand how important he is to their roster construction. They also know they can’t walk into 2026 without serious bullpen upgrades, and replacing Diaz would likely cost just as much as keeping him, with more uncertainty baked in.
Ultimately, this comes down to how far the Mets are willing to push. They can outbid most of the league if they choose. The question is whether they feel they must, or whether they’re prepared to pivot if another team blows the market wide open.
Either way, the Mets’ winter just got a lot more interesting.
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