Mets' Edwin Díaz Could Give Up Closer Role Amid Struggles

Patrick Andres | May 19, 2024

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago, New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz was so dominant that he singlehandedly took a song to No. 18 on the Billboard dance charts.

O.K., that may be a bit of an exaggeration. But his 2022 numbers speak for themselves: 32 saves, 118 strikeouts in 62 innings, and a 1.31 ERA. He finished ninth in the Cy Young voting and the Mets won 101 games, and Díaz was rewarded with a five-year, $102 million contract the following offseason that was the richest in history for a reliever.

Two years later, New York is struggling and so is Díaz in his return from a 2023 patellar tendon injury. He entered Saturday with a 6.75 ERA over his last seven appearances—and then he gave up four earned runs in an epic Mets collapse against the Miami Marlins.

After the game, Díaz told reporters he would be open to forfeiting his role as New York's closer as he tries to get back on track.

"I'm open to everything," Díaz said. "I want to help my team to win... that's my main thing. If they want to talk to me about that and I feel good about it, I agree on it. I just want to win games in any position they put me."

The Mets are currently 20–25, 12 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.