Edwin Diaz clarified his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, for anyone, including Steve Cohen, who didn’t understand it.
The Dodgers closer opened up about signing with his new team and spoke about why the Dodgers “did a great job recruiting” him this offseason.
Diaz was a two-time All-Star and locked down 144 saves in his six seasons with the New York Mets before signing a three-year, $69 million contract with LA. The Dodgers are hoping Diaz can do for them what he did in New York, since they finished tied for 21st in bullpen ERA in 2025 (4.27).
Edwin Diaz Signed With the Dodgers Because They ‘Did a Great Job Recruiting Me’
Mets owner Steve Cohen has been known for his outspokenness. So he made waves again when he publicly questioned Diaz’s reasons for signing with the Dodgers while discussing the Mets’ move to sign free agent Devin Williams.
“I’m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision, obviously it’s a personal decision, and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid — I could argue our bid might’ve been better,” Cohen said. “But he made his decision, and I’ll tell you something, when things got hot and heavy, when this was coming down, I felt pretty good about our decision to sign Devin Williams. It was really clever, because it was a good hedge in case things didn’t work out with Edwin.”
When asked to respond to Cohen’s comments, Diaz simply laid out the facts.
“It’s a market I was in. I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone,” Diaz told reporters in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday. “I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me. At the end of the day, I chose to be here.”
The Mets’ reported offer was for three years at $66 million, with a fourth-year option plus deferrals. Even though he left New York, Diaz feels good about his time there.
“I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership,” Diaz said. “They treated me really good. I don’t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I’m here. This is a new journey for me and I’m happy to be with the Dodgers, so let’s see how it goes.”
Edwin Diaz Will Pitch in the WBC
Diaz pitched five seasons for the Mets, despite the fact he was there six years.
Diaz sustained a catastrophic, season-ending leg injury while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over Dominican Republic in Miami in the World Baseball Classic in 2023. In part due to that injury, the Mets went 75-87 and missed the playoffs after winning 101 games and reaching the postseason the year before.
Still, Diaz has no reservations about playing for Puerto Rico again this year.
“It wasn’t in my mind at all,” Diaz said of the injury. “It was an easy decision. It’ll be my first time playing in Puerto Rico, in front of my people, so it was an easy yes when I knew the WBC was going to be there.”
Diaz will get to pitch at the legendary Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, since Puerto Rico will be in Pool A with Canada, Panama, Cuba and Colombia. The tournament starts March 6.
Edwin Diaz Delivers Strong Message on Dodgers in Response to Mets’ Steve Cohen