The New York Mets’ 2025 season ended in frustration. Despite an aggressive and highly praised winter spending spree, the club fell short of October and now heads into another critical offseason facing the potential departure of multiple cornerstone pieces.
Among the pending free agents, first baseman Pete Alonso stands out, but it’s closer Edwin Díaz who represents the Mets’ most urgent priority. While Alonso will draw interest from several clubs, Díaz is expected to have a far broader market, with some insiders projecting interest from upward of seven teams.
Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball recently forecasted that the Mets will ultimately keep their flamethrowing closer, projecting a four-year, $80 million agreement.
“Diaz’s last contract was a five-year, $102 million deal. Deferrals in the contract took the AAV for luxury tax purposes down to around $18.6 million per season,” Finkelstein wrote.
“That was three years ago, so Diaz may not get a five-year deal this time around, but he should still command close $20 million per season on a three or four-year pact.”
At 31, Díaz remains one of the most overpowering ninth-inning weapons in the sport when healthy. His triple-digit velocity and devastating slider have produced three separate seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA and strikeout rates that few relievers can match. Letting that kind of dominance leave Queens—especially to a direct National League rival—would create a hole that no amount of mid-tier free-agent relief signings could adequately fill.
For a franchise that still remains firmly in win-now mode under owner Steve Cohen, watching Díaz close games for the Phillies, Braves, or Dodgers next October would sting far more than any Alonso departure.
Bringing back the player known as “Sugar” isn’t just about retaining talent; it’s about sending a message that the Mets intend to finish what they started.
Expect David Stearns and the front office to make Díaz the centerpiece of their winter plans. Anything less would turn a disappointing 2025 into an outright disastrous start to 2026.
