Key Takeaways
- • Edwin Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason after six seasons with the New York Mets, following the Mets' surprise signing of reliever Devin Williams that created an opening.
- • Mets owner Steve Cohen publicly characterized Díaz's departure as "perplexing," signaling initial friction over the All-Star closer's decision to leave New York for the reigning back-to-back champion Dodgers.
- • Díaz and Cohen reconciled during the Dodgers-Mets series in mid-April 2026, with the closer confirming their relationship remains intact and extends beyond baseball—focusing on family matters rather than rehashing the departure decision.
- • Kiké Hernández, a Dodgers player, facilitated the acquisition by alerting president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that Díaz felt disrespected by the Mets' Williams signing, creating the strategic opening the Dodgers exploited.
- • Díaz emphasized that Cohen "understands this is a business," characterizing their professional relationship as rooted in strong communication and mutual respect despite the high-profile free agent loss.
Summary
Edwin Díaz's move from the New York Mets to the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason represents a significant roster acquisition for the reigning back-to-back champions and a notable loss for the Mets organization. The All-Star closer inked a three-year, $69 million contract with Los Angeles after spending six seasons with New York, where he had established himself as one of baseball's premier closers.
The backdrop to Díaz's departure involved a strategic miscalculation by Mets management. The organization signed reliever Devin Williams during the offseason, a move that reportedly caught Díaz off guard and signaled to the player that the Mets were hedging their commitment to retaining him as their closer. This perceived slight created an opening that the Dodgers capitalized on when Kiké Hernández, recognizing Díaz's emotional reaction to the Williams signing, reached out to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to advocate for a pursuit. Hernández told The Athletic that he believed "it's the right time to act on things," ultimately triggering the Dodgers' successful acquisition.
Mets owner Steve Cohen responded publicly to Díaz's departure by calling the decision "perplexing," a characterization that suggested frustration with the closer's choice to leave. However, when the Dodgers and Mets faced off in mid-April 2026, Díaz and Cohen connected during the series, and the closer's subsequent comments revealed that any surface-level tension had dissipated. Díaz stated that Cohen "understands this is a business" and emphasized that their conversation focused on personal matters—family and general welfare—rather than relitigating the free agent decision. The closer underscored that his relationship with Cohen transcends sports and praised the Mets organization for treating him well during his tenure in New York.
Díaz's comments reflect a pragmatic approach to managing high-profile free agent departures, with both parties acknowledging the transactional nature of professional sports while preserving their underlying relationship. His characterization of Cohen's understanding and their maintained communication underscores that even contentious roster decisions need not result in lasting acrimony between organizations and departing players.
The backdrop to Díaz's departure involved a strategic miscalculation by Mets management. The organization signed reliever Devin Williams during the offseason, a move that reportedly caught Díaz off guard and signaled to the player that the Mets were hedging their commitment to retaining him as their closer. This perceived slight created an opening that the Dodgers capitalized on when Kiké Hernández, recognizing Díaz's emotional reaction to the Williams signing, reached out to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to advocate for a pursuit. Hernández told The Athletic that he believed "it's the right time to act on things," ultimately triggering the Dodgers' successful acquisition.
Mets owner Steve Cohen responded publicly to Díaz's departure by calling the decision "perplexing," a characterization that suggested frustration with the closer's choice to leave. However, when the Dodgers and Mets faced off in mid-April 2026, Díaz and Cohen connected during the series, and the closer's subsequent comments revealed that any surface-level tension had dissipated. Díaz stated that Cohen "understands this is a business" and emphasized that their conversation focused on personal matters—family and general welfare—rather than relitigating the free agent decision. The closer underscored that his relationship with Cohen transcends sports and praised the Mets organization for treating him well during his tenure in New York.
Díaz's comments reflect a pragmatic approach to managing high-profile free agent departures, with both parties acknowledging the transactional nature of professional sports while preserving their underlying relationship. His characterization of Cohen's understanding and their maintained communication underscores that even contentious roster decisions need not result in lasting acrimony between organizations and departing players.
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