Díaz had a 1.63 ERA and 2.45 xERA with 28 saves in his 62 appearances for the New York Mets in 2025, with 98 strikeouts and 21 walks in 66 1/3 innings, making his third All-Star team and second all-MLB team honor.
After missing 2023 with right knee surgery, Díaz over the last two seasons ranked second among qualified relievers in both strikeout rate (38.4 percent) and strikeout-minus-walk rate (29.7 percent), fueling his 2.48 ERA and 2.46 xERA over 120 innings combined in 2023-24.
Next March, Díaz will turn 32 years old, and in the Dodgers bullpen he will join Tanner Scott, who will turn 32 in July. Scott was last year’s big bullpen purchase, signing with Los Angeles for $72 million over four years, but struggled badly with a 4.74 ERA and 4.25 ERA in 61 games.
Díaz’s previous deal with the Mets was the largest contract ever signed by a relief pitcher, guaranteeing $102 million over five years. After earning $64 million over the last three years, Díaz in November declined his player option for 2026-27 that would have guaranteed him another $38 million.
Díaz’s new deal with the Dodgers breaks his own record for average annual value for a reliever, at $23 million per year.
