Report: Mets kick-off offseason by re-signing Edwin Díaz to record-setting contract

New York has reportedly re-signed their closer to a record five-year, $102 million contract.

HELLO THERE, OFFSEASON!

Less than 24 hours after the World Series came to an end, the Mets got a massive jump on their winter plans by re-signing closer Edwin Díaz to a five-year, $102 million contract. Bob Nightengale was the first to report the deal, while ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the deal also includes an opt-out clause, full no-trade clause and a sixth-year option that would increase the overall value of the contract to $122 million.

The $102 million deal is now the largest deal in major league history for a relief pitcher.

This really is a remarkable turnaround for Díaz, still only 28 years old, who had such a difficult start to his Mets tenure during a tumultuous season in 2019. After being traded for the highly touted Jarred Kelenic and flopping in his debut season in New York, it would have been easy for Díaz to drift away as yet another trade that didn’t work out, and another closer that simply couldn’t get it done in the bright lights for the New York Mets. Instead, Díaz improved each season eventually culminating in one of the greatest years by a closer we’ve ever seen. And don’t forget that scintillating nightly “Narco” entrance.

This past season, Díaz converted 32-of-34 saves with a 1.31 ERA, 0.90 FIP, 0.839 WHIP, 118 strikeouts and 18 walks. Díaz held opposing hitters to an expected .149 batting average and expected .205 slugging percentage, while striking out 50.2 percent of the batters he faced – all in the top one percent of MLB.

With this signing, the Mets have not only locked down the 9th inning of baseball games through the 2027 season but they’d also fired their opening salvo of the 2022 offseason. This move may also act as a sign of things to come, as this team could look to be incredibly aggressive in a key offseason following a 101-win season that did not end how the front office anticipated.

Even after locking up Díaz, this team is likely to have Jacob deGrom, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco and Adam Ottavino as key players to hit free agency this winter.

This is a franchise with a lot of work ahead of them, but one that also has a deep-pocketed owner that wants to win and a core that is clearly capable of racking those up. This is very likely to be the first — and not nearly the last — of many big moves for the Mets this offseason.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.