In Diaz, Mets get guy they really wanted
Robinson Cano may be the biggest name in Saturday’s blockbuster, but Edwin Diaz is the fire-throwing gem the Mets were really after.
With all the wheeling and dealing newly minted GM Brodie Van Wagenen did in the trade with the Mariners, bringing a frontline closer to Flushing, which the Mets were lacking last season, was always going to be the most important factor. The Mets dealt Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, and Gerson Bautista to the Mariners in exchange for Cano, Diaz and $20 million. The trade is done pending a physical, The News’ Kristie Ackert confirmed.
Diaz was a revelation in 2018, making the All-Star team while leading all of baseball with 57 saves. He struck out 104, had a 1.95 ERA, .791 WHIP and a ridiculous 15.2 strikeouts/per nine innings. He was also named the Mariano Rivera reliever of the Year.
The 57 saves for Diaz last season would have shattered a franchise record for the Mets. Jeurys Familia holds the single-season mark with 51 in 2016, but after arm issues, Familia never returned to that form and was traded to the Athletics last season. The next closest Met to Familia was Armando Benitez with 43 saves in 2001.
At just 24 years old, Diaz could be a key bullpen piece for years to come. His earliest arbitration date is 2020 and he is under team control until 2023.
While his first two seasons in the league weren’t nearly as dominant, he still had 34 saves in 2017 and the Mets are banking on getting a young, confident reliever on the upswing with a fastball that touches triple digits.
Diaz would also appear to be a fun addition to the clubhouse. In Seattle, he made a bet with skipper Scott Servais that if he reached 50 saves, his manager would have to get a matching haircut. At the time, Diaz had a lightning bolt shaved into the side of his head and when he reached that 50th save Servais, true to his word, headed to the barbershop for the same cut.
“He looks like the best-swaggered manager in the league right now,” Diaz said at the time.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway may need to keep a razor close by, and if it means he gets another 50-save season from his closer, he would probably handle a haircut.