Edwin Díaz Joins Dodgers Driven by Desire to Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers just landed another marquee name. They’ve signed elite closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal that could totally reshape the late innings at Chavez Ravine.

This move might fuel their push for a historic three-peat in 2026. After seven seasons with the New York Mets, Diaz brings his devastating stuff, his star power, and his iconic “Narco” entrance track to a franchise already loaded with championship ambition.

Edwin Diaz Leaves Mets Collapse Behind for Dodgers’ Championship Culture

Diaz’s move west ends a memorable but turbulent chapter in Queens. He chose to opt out of the final two years and $38 million on his Mets contract after their disastrous collapse in the 2025 season.

Expectations in New York were sky-high, but the results fell painfully short. While the Mets wanted him back, Diaz made it clear he wanted to join an organization built to win now—and keep winning.

He saw the Dodgers as exactly that: a winning culture, stability from top to bottom, and a roster always in the hunt. You can’t really blame him for chasing rings at this point, can you?

Why Diaz Chose Los Angeles Over a Return to New York

Diaz pointed to the Dodgers’ track record of sustained excellence and championship potential as big reasons for his decision. Top-tier closers want the ball in October almost as much as they want big contracts, and the Dodgers’ constant postseason presence carried a lot of weight.

He didn’t make the call alone. His brother, Alexis Diaz, spent last season with the Dodgers and raved about the clubhouse and the support he got from the organization.

Veteran utility man Enrique Hernandez also vouched for the team, which helped Diaz feel comfortable making the leap. Sometimes, you just need to hear it from someone who’s been there.

The Bullpen Fix the Dodgers Desperately Needed

The 2025 Dodgers had an unmistakable flaw: the back end of the bullpen. It’s the kind of thing that keeps managers up at night and sends front offices scrambling as soon as the offseason hits.

The numbers tell you why Diaz became such a big target.

Dodgers’ 2025 Bullpen Struggles Set the Stage

The Dodgers’ relievers posted a 4.27 ERA in 2025 and blew 27 saves. That’s a startling total for a team with championship aspirations.

High-leverage innings turned into tightrope walks, and late leads just never felt safe. By contrast, Diaz has been the model of reliability and dominance.

Since 2017, he’s piled up 235 saves, the third-most in the majors over that span. He’s made ninth innings feel like formalities instead of adventures.

Diaz’s Elite 2025 Season: Dominance in Every Metric

Diaz comes to Los Angeles after one of the best seasons of his career. In 2025, he recorded:

Those numbers show he’s still one of the game’s premier closers. He’s got a power arm, swing-and-miss stuff, and the temperament to handle the most pressurized innings.

For a Dodgers team that didn’t just want an upgrade but needed a stopper, Diaz checks every box. There’s no sugarcoating it—they needed this guy.

“Narco,” New Number, and a New Stage for a Star Closer

Diaz isn’t just about the stats. His entrance is an event, a spectacle, and now that show is headed to the West Coast.

The sound of “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet became synonymous with Diaz in New York. It turned the ninth inning at Citi Field into a nightly show.

Diaz is already excited to bring that same energy to Dodger Stadium. October nights could turn the song into a new soundtrack for playoff baseball.

Honoring History: Diaz Adopts No. 3 in Los Angeles

Diaz wore No. 39 with the Mets, but that number’s retired in Los Angeles for Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella. In respect to that legacy, Diaz will wear No. 3 for his new club.

The fresh number marks a fresh chapter: new league, new ballpark, same mission of locking down the final three outs. That’s the job, and Diaz sure seems ready for it.

Dodgers’ Three-Peat Dream Gets Its Closer

The Dodgers have spent the last decade building rosters that look like All-Star teams. This offseason? Same story, honestly.

Adding Diaz isn’t just about making headlines. The team needed to fill the one obvious gap on a club that’s already built for a championship.

Los Angeles is aiming for a three-peat championship run in 2026. Diaz now stands right at the heart of that mission.

If he keeps striking out hitters at this pace, he’ll turn tense games into wins. Suddenly, the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium feels like can’t-miss TV.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Diaz picked Dodgers because ‘I’m looking to win’