Why Edwin Diaz Chose Dodgers Contract Over Mets Return Reportedly Revealed

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz reportedly left the New York Mets for L.A. in free agency for a simple reason: his new team was able to meet his contractual demands.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo provided the breakdown.

"But Díaz, who turns 32 in March, wanted an annual average value of at least $20 million and less deferred money spread over a shorter period. The Mets, according to a source, refused to meet those terms. The Braves, though offering more years, also declined to meet the criteria.

"That left the Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions -- with a nudge from Díaz's Puerto Rican compatriot Kiké Hernández -- to make an improved third offer: three years, $69 million with a $9 million bonus, $13.5 million in deferred money over 10 years, and a conditional $6.5 million option for 2029 that would trigger if he spends a certain number of days on the injured list. Díaz accepted, giving the Dodgers another All-Star for their loaded roster and another hole for the Mets to fill."

Díaz just authored a tremendous season, posting a 1.63 ERA and amassing 28 saves while striking out 98 batters in 66.1 innings. He made his third All-Star Game en route to those numbers.

Simply put, Díaz picked a great time to have one of the best seasons of his career, and now he's joined the back-to-back World Series champions.

L.A. has obviously made it a habit in recent years of signing the best players available, with the most notable examples including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. That trend has continued into this offseason, with the team shoring up the bullpen by adding one of the best closers in baseball.

The Dodgers aren't afraid to spend money, as evidenced by their monster $321.3 million payroll last year. Simply put, they were willing to do more financially for Díaz than the Mets (who actually led the league in payroll last year at $323.1 million), and that's why Díaz is a Dodger.