New York Mets: Where Will Edwin Diaz Land?

New York Mets, Edwin Diaz
Jul 5, 2019; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets have claimed to be sellers at the trade deadline, but have gone 8-5 since the All-Star break. Will they make a major move before July 31?

Who Wants Diaz?

One of their biggest trade assets has now become closer Edwin Diaz and plenty of teams are lining up for his services. Diaz has become more likely to be dealt than Noah Syndergaard.

The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins are the front-runners to land Diaz. All three teams have closer problems, and Diaz would solidify their bullpen for the next few years.

The Benefits of Acquiring Diaz

Diaz is young, cheap and controllable, which is a beautiful thing to general managers today. He has struggled at times this year, with a 4.81 ERA, but has 61 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.

He has seemed to find himself since the break; in six outings, he has not allowed a run, and looks like the pitcher the Mets shipped their top prospect Jarred Kelenic away for. In order for the Mets to trade Diaz, they will need a huge haul in return.

If the Mets do not receive a Gavin Lux type of player, the deal would be a failure, however. The Mets traded away their top prospect for Diaz, and it will be irresponsible to ask for anything less than that now. This has to be a deal where the Mets are overwhelmed with what they receive in return.

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