Will Edwin Diaz Sign New Mets Contract in Free Agency? MLB Insider Dishes on Rumors

The New York Mets and star closer Edwin Díaz remain at an impasse on a new contract, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon.

Sammon reported the Mets would like to retain both Díaz and first baseman Pete Alonso, but they "are not going to be persuaded by emotion." When it comes to the veteran reliever, "contract length is a sticking point in talks."

On Nov. 12, Sammon and colleague Ken Rosenthal reported Díaz is aiming to sign a contract similar to the five-year, $102 million pact he got from New York in 2022.

Sammon followed up Sunday to say the Mets would like a shorter deal, and they've already started evaluating replacements in the event they move on from Díaz. They reached out to representatives for Devin Williams and Robert Suarez.

Díaz is coming off another strong season. He appeared in 62 games and notched 28 saves with a 1.63 ERA and 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Big contracts for relief pitchers can be a risky investment, though.

Tanner Scott got $72 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason and proceeded to have the worst year of his MLB career. Josh Hader was an All-Star for the Houston Astros in 2025, but the overall results from his $96 million contract are mixed. Even leaving aside the fact he missed all of 2023 with a freak injury, Díaz's five-year deal with New York wasn't aging well by 2024, when he posted a 3.52 ERA and blew seven saves.

The right-hander will turn 32 in March, so it's not surprising that the Mets may not be enamored with the idea of paying him around $20 million by the time he's 36 or 37.

Even an owner as free-spending as Steve Cohen will have his limits. On a pound-for-pound basis, landing Williams or Suarez might be a better move for New York than coming close to Díaz's asking price.