With the MLB trade deadline less than a day away, the rumor mill is heating up and the New York Mets are looking to move their closer Edwin Diaz to either the LA Dodgers or Boston Red Sox.
Both World Series teams from last year would love to add Diaz to strength their bullpens. Meanwhile, the Mets have been busy in the days leading up to the MLB trade deadline. They made a head-scratching deal to acquire Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays. GM Brodie Van Wagenen also put Noah Syndergaard on the block. He’s been fielding offers for Zack Wheeler as well.
The Mets acquired Diaz in a trade with the Seattle Mariners during the offseason. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto pulled off a massive trade with Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen. Dipoto sent Robinson Cano and Diaz to the Mets for outfielder Jay Bruce and four prospects.
So far in 2019, Diaz struggled. This year with the Mets, Diaz saved 23 games, but his ERA is 4.95 with a 1.45 WHIP. Then again, some of that is not all on Diaz. The Mets have one of the worst defenses in the National League.
Diaz did not look anything like the lights-out closer in Seattle. Last season, Diaz saved 57 games with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. Over his short career spanning four seasons, Diaz saved 132 games with a 3.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
Diaz to Boston?
The Red Sox are heating up. They destroyed the Yankees last weekend in a four-game series and nearly swept the Bronx Bombers. The Sox are 9 games out of first place in the AL East and on the Wild Card bubble.
The Red Sox have been dangling prospect Bobby Dalbec, a slugging third baseman, in a potential trade for Diaz. Dalbec crushed 20 home runs in AA ball. They also offered 1B/3B Triston Casas who hit 17 homers for Greenville in single-A ball.
They could also make a deal involving their 2018 overall pick, Rafael Devers.
Diaz to LA?
The LA Dodgers have 69 wins and are on the cusp of being the first team to win 70 games. You would think a team that is running away with the NL title would be in contention for a relief pitcher having a bad season. Then again, the Dodgers could be playing defense by preventing any foes from bolstering their bullpen.
Kenley Jansen settled into the Dodgers closer role with 25 saves in 41 appearances. Jansen has a 3.67 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Pedro Baez has been strong as a set-up man with a 3.26 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
But after Jansen and Baez, Dave Roberts does not have anyone else he can truly trust. Even though Diaz is out of sync, a change of scenery could do wonders for his headspace. The Dodgers have instilled a winning culture and went to the World Series the last two seasons. Meanwhile, the Mets are the competing with the cursed NY Knicks as worst sports team in New York City.
