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Steve Cohen remains puzzled over Edwin Diaz’s surprising switch to the Dodgers.
During a conversation with veteran broadcaster Howie Rose, the Mets’ owner expressed bewilderment regarding the star closer’s move to the reigning World Series champions this offseason, following a seven-year tenure in Queens.
Cohen is still grappling with the outcome, as Diaz inked a lucrative three-year, $69 million deal with Los Angeles.
“That decision still baffles me,” Cohen admitted.
“I’m uncertain about what influenced Edwin’s choice. Of course, it’s a personal matter for him, but I believed our offer was fairly competitive.”
The Mets offered the 31-year-old Diaz $3 million less but reportedly had “wiggle room” to go higher.
The three-time All-Star said during his introductory press conference with the Dodgers that his decision wasn’t about the money.
“It wasn’t easy. I spent seven years in New York — they treated me great,” Diaz said. “I chose the Dodgers because they’re a winning organization. I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win, so picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”
Diaz and the Mets reached the postseason just twice during his seven years there, including losing to the Dodgers in six games in the 2024 NLCS.
The Mets were prepared if things did not go their way with Diaz, having already signed closer Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million pact.
Cohen praised David Stearns, his president of baseball operations, for his forward thinking.
“When it was getting hot and heavy when this was coming down,” Cohen said, “I felt pretty good about the fact that we had signed Devin Williams. I described it to David, that was pretty clever because it was a really good hedge in case it was an unfavorable outcome with Edwin.”
Diaz was among the best closers in Mets history and was coming off a season with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves, even as the team collapsed and missed the playoffs by one win.
His departure was part of an overhaul of the team’s roster after that disappointing finish.
Stearns did not re-sign Diaz or Pete Alonso and traded away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.
Cohen, like most Mets fans fell some of the uneasiness of breaking up the core of the franchise.
“I felt it too, by the way,” Cohen said. “The players that left were the players that I started with in my ownership, Day 1. And so I had developed pretty close relationships with some of these players. From a personal standpoint, I really felt it. First time I’ve ever been through something like that. That creates anxiety when people leave.”