The Sugar Conundrum

[Edgy MD]

Not all the drama this offseason will be Alonsonian. The Mets have Edwin Diaz signed through 2028, but the 2026 and 2027 seasons are both player option years at $18.5 million per. A pair of escape clauses.

Neither his slider nor his fastball seem to be what they once were, but he sure did well this year with what he had, and he likely would prefer that success to lead to some more sweetener in his deal.

[FIMG=650]https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp/s3/2024-10/GettyImages-2172627229.jpg.webp?itok=wUz0DIJe[/FIMG]

[Frayed Knot]

From the Athletic:

When Edwin Díaz signed his five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets in November 2022, it was the largest in history for a reliever. Díaz, though, reached that agreement before becoming a free agent. By opting out of the final two years and $38 million of that deal, he essentially created his first — and potentially last — chance to test the open market.

Díaz, who turns 32 in March, is coming off one of his best seasons, one in which he produced a 1.63 ERA with a 38 percent strikeout rate and 8.1 percent walk rate in 66 1/3 innings. The deal he wants, according to a person briefed on his wishes, is essentially the same one the Mets gave him the last time.

The Athletic’s Tim Britton wrote, “the Mets need to bring back Díaz, however much it costs.” Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex, might agree — they are said to be huge fans of Díaz. President of baseball operations David Stearns, however, is known for his discipline. And the free-agent market is deep in late-inning relievers, from Devin Williams and Robert Suarez to Ryan Helsley and Pete Fairbanks to Luke Weaver and Raisel Iglesias, among others.

So, a target of $20/per for his age 32 thru 36 seasons.

[Edgy MD]

Thanks for giving this thread a second chance.

On one hand, I cannot imagine more useless analysis than “the Mets need to bring back Díaz, however much it costs.”

On the other hand, can anybody imagine the Mets passing on resigning him and installing Ryan Helsley as his replacement?

[kcmets]

$80 million guaranteed for Diaz over four years seems rather

nutty to me. $40 million over two years laden with incentives

and whatnot and some kind of options for maybe the third.

I doubt any team is going to do $80 for four and if they do...

Hasta la vista, baby!

[Centerfield]

Funny. I’m in completely the opposite camp. It seems like closers tend to age better than other players.

Mariano. Hoffman. Wagner. These guys stayed dominant even late in their careers. Aroldis Chapman was amazing at 37 years old. Kenley Jansen. Rasiel Iglesias. All still good.

I’m good with 5 years. Maybe try to give him less money on the back end.

[Fman99]

Pay the man. I need my sugar fix

[metsmarathon]

Of course the only two players I’ve ever owned a jersey of opt out of their contracts in the same off season.

I’m significantly more invested in Diaz staying, despite Pete being one of my most favorite Mets players ever.

Pay the man. There’s no Equal, I don’t want no Sweet’n’low, and don’t go bringing that Stevia horseshit around here.

[MFS62]

On the other hand, can anybody imagine the Mets passing on resigning him and installing Ryan Helsley as his replacement?

 

After reading that, I had to go double up on my heart medication.

Pay the man. I like CF's comps.

I'd like a 4 year, with a 5th year mutual option.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Pay the man. There’s no Equal, I don’t want no Sweet’n’low, and don’t go bringing that Stevia horseshit around here.

 

Stevia Cohen would be a terrible nickname to hang on a guy, so totally don’t do that.

[Frayed Knot]

[YOUTUBE]E90_aL870ao[/YOUTUBE]

Not quite as raucous as the Timmy Trumpets thing, but perhaps opposing batters would

come to the plate in a haunted mood if he switched to this one as his intro music.

[The Hot Corner]

If it were my call to make, I would be fine with offering 4 years/$80 mil. with a club option for $20 mil. on a 5th year. I would be okay with a club buy out of $3-4 mil. should the club option is not exercised. Since the club was already on the hook for $38 mil. for 2026 & 2027 had Diaz not opted out, that isn't that big a stretch.

Of course, it isn't my money nor my call to make.

[Gwreck]

On one hand, I cannot imagine more useless analysis than “the Mets need to bring back Díaz, however much it costs.”

 

The full article had the arguments built out a lot more, but basically it came down to:

-the internal options to replace Diaz aren’t nearly as good

-external options are either several years older (Robert Suarez, Rasiel Iglesias) or have had some recent challenging times in New York (Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley) and thus probably unlikely to sign with the Mets.

-this is the sort of player a team like the Mets should sign given their financial advantage.

-Even if Diaz ages poorly and loses the closer role by the end of the contract, he can still be a useful part of the bullpen and wouldn’t just be dead space on the roster.

I think all of these are good points, but I also agree with The Hot Corner’s analysis: the Mets would have been happy for Diaz to not opt-out and stay for 2 more years. Giving Diaz what is effectively a 2 or 3 year extension isn’t exactly outrageous, and we know Uncle Stevie’s got the cash.

[Lefty Specialist]

Considering that they have virtually no bullpen at the current time, signing Diaz is doubly important. You can fill in the other roles once you have a closer. It's much harder to do the other way around.