Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers, David Stearns on the Hot Seat. What is going on in queens?

The Contract

Edwin Diaz has reportedly agreed to a 3 year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. This deal comes about a week after Devin Williams signed a 3 year deal with the Mets. The Mets were still heavily interested in Diaz even after acquiring Williams, but it seems like Diaz and the Mets had other plans as the former reliever of the year went to the defending champs. 

Reflection

The Mets should’ve been all over this contract. Their biggest need last year was bullpen arms, and for them to lose basically their most reliable arm is a huge loss. This is a brutal look for David Stearns and the mets front office, no matter how he attempts to replace Diaz. It shocks me how the Mets, with the richest owner in all of baseball, couldn’t bring back one of the greatest closers in their team’s history on a 3 year deal. It would be one thing if the Dodgers significantly overpaid Diaz and gave him a 5-year contract, something the Mets clearly didn’t want to do, but for him to leave on just a 3 year deal baffles me. This deal adds to a frustrating off season for the fans and David Stearns, as they have lost 2 fan favorites in Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz, and a third could be coming with Pete Alonso inching closer to a deal. With Kyle Schwarber coming off the market earlier today and re-signing with the Phillies, a big free agent off the board, the Mets seemingly need to make a big splash to save this puzzling offseason.