When the New York Mets acquired closer Edwin Diaz alongside Robinson Cano in a 2018
offseason trade, it was supposed to be compensation for taking Cano’s massive contract on the following year’s payroll. While Cano's best days were behind him, Diaz was coming off a year where he posted a 1.96 ERA and recorded a league-best 57 saves, leaving little room to argue that he wasn’t one of, if not, the best closer in baseball. The Mets in exchange for Diaz and Cano sent a trade package to Seattle headlined by then-top prospect Jarred Kelenic and veteran Jay Bruce. It was a tough pill for many Mets fans to swallow parting with Kelenic after selecting him 6th overall just several months prior in the 2018 draft, and with this being now ex-Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen's initial big splash in the Mets' front office, fans were scratching their heads at the idea of taking on Cano's overpriced contract but remained eager to see all that Diaz could provide for the bullpen.
Well, the 2019 campaign could not have been more of a disaster for Edwin Diaz. He blew 7 of 33 save opportunities and had a putrid 5.59 ERA. Mets fans held their breath every time he entered a close game in the later innings, and Diaz himself seemed to be doing the same displaying a body language that almost had the looks of being intimidated by crowd reactions. It had been an inexplicable fall from grace for the 25-year-old closer who had seen so much success just months prior for the Mariners. The collapse led many to the question of just what was wrong with Diaz? Young, elite pitchers do not just plummet as he had often, so what was it? Was it the transition from small-market Seattle to the bright lights of Queens? Was it the constant criticism and comparison of him and Cano to Kelenic who was quickly rising through the minors?
Despite Diaz's struggles, the Mets managed to tread water and stay in the 2019 wild card race in large part due to the efforts of NL Rookie of the Year and MLB home run leader Pete Alonso, but ultimately, when October rolled around, the Mets were on the outside looking in. The team had missed the second wild card spot by just three games that year, 4 less than the number of blown saves Diaz had for those keeping track. Many questioned where the team would go from there with their newly-acquired closer. It would be difficult to justify parting ways with someone one season removed from saving 57 ballgames, but at the same time, it was easy for one to argue he was the reason the team missed the playoffs. With the season now in the rearview, Diaz and the Mets found themselves in an almost unprecented situation.
Fast-forward three years later and the Mets find themselves 25 games above .500 for the first time since 2006 and serious contenders for a National League pennant thanks in large part to one Edwin Diaz. With the second half underway, Diaz has established himself as a legitimate Cy Young candidate. Through 100 games, the Mets closer has recorded 23 saves, posted a 1.51 ERA, tallied 84 strikeouts, and is averaging 18.1 strikeouts per nine. For as far as he had plunged in 2019, he has risen back to, and perhaps even higher than the level of excellence we saw in 2018. Diaz has more than made up for his contribution to the Mets’ shortfalls his first couple of seasons with the club by becoming the mainstay of their bullpen and a primary contributor to the team's postseason hopes.
As of July 30th, Diaz's last 9 appearances look a little something like this: 9.1 IP, 1 H, 0
R, 0 BB, 21 K (30 batters faced). He has thrown 106 pitches over that span, 85 of which being strikes. When Mets fans hear trumpets upon entering the ninth inning, they are confident Diaz is about to lock up the W. This seems a far cry from how the fanbase felt about him in 2019, and it is nothing short of high-praise for the 28-year-old closer. Being able to put a disastrous debut season behind you and turn it around in the market of New York says a lot about Diaz’s mental prowess. As the 2022 season rolls into the latter half, Diaz’s importance to the Mets’ success will only continue to grow as he will be leaned on heavily throughout August/September in attempts to secure the NL East, and if the current standings hold, into October.
Written by: Kyle Coreth,
July 30th, 2022