Braves Reportedly Offered Edwin Diaz Five-Year Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers just fired a huge shot in the offseason arms race, signing elite closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract. Even though the deal didn’t hit Díaz’s original five-year, $100 million target, it still reset the market for relief pitchers and forced contenders like the Atlanta Braves to scramble in a tightening free-agent scene.

Dodgers Land Edwin Díaz on a Record AAV Deal

That $69 million over three years? It’s as bold as Díaz’s fastball, and the $23 million average annual value now stands as a new AAV record for relief pitchers. The Dodgers clearly put a premium on late-game dominance.

This deal is especially interesting because of the balance between price and years. Díaz entered the winter chasing five years and $100 million, but teams drew a line at the contract length. They were willing to push the AAV to new heights, but not the years.

Why the Dodgers’ Offer Beat the Field

The Mets, Díaz’s old team, didn’t want to go past three years. Even with their familiarity with Díaz and his impact in the bullpen, they just weren’t willing to pay top dollar into his mid-30s.

At least one other team wanted to stretch the years, but not the annual value. That’s where the Dodgers found their window.

The Braves’ Aggressive but Unsuccessful Pursuit

ESPN reports the Atlanta Braves jumped in with a bold proposal, offering Díaz a five-year deal covering his age-32 through age-36 seasons. The exact numbers on Atlanta’s offer are still under wraps, but the structure is telling: more years, but probably a lower AAV than the Dodgers’ $23 million per season.

Díaz chose the shorter, richer deal in Los Angeles over the longer one in Atlanta. For a pitcher with plenty of innings and a volatile job, maximizing annual earnings and limiting long-term risk makes a lot of sense.

Why Atlanta’s Long-Term Pitch Fell Short

Atlanta was willing to commit through Díaz’s age-36 season, but couldn’t match the Dodgers’ yearly payout. In today’s free agency, elite relievers usually pick total guarantee or annual value. Díaz went for the latter.

Braves Pivot: Suárez, Kim, and a Soaring Payroll

After Díaz picked L.A., the Braves moved fast to Plan B. Within two days, they signed Robert Suárez to a three-year, $45 million contract to strengthen their bullpen.

They didn’t stop there. Atlanta also brought back Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year, $20 million deal, filling their shortstop need and giving their roster more flexibility.

Crossing the Luxury Tax Line

Those moves pushed the Braves’ payroll past the $244 million luxury tax threshold. That’s a big step for a franchise that usually tries to balance contention with financial caution.

If they’d landed Díaz, the cost would’ve included more than just money and years. Because of his qualifying offer, signing him would have made Atlanta:

The Braves’ pursuit shows they’re now ready to spend aggressively and give up draft capital for proven, top-tier talent.

What’s Next: Rotation Help Tops Braves’ To-Do List

With the bullpen stronger and shortstop covered, the Braves now turn to a more classic need: starting pitching. Injuries hammered their staff last season and exposed how thin things got behind the frontline arms.

They’re expected to chase a mid-rotation starter who can eat innings and bridge the gap between the top and bottom of the rotation. That fits their recent approach—spend big where it counts, then patch with smart, targeted moves elsewhere.

The Bigger Picture in the NL Arms Race

The Díaz signing and the Braves’ response show a bigger trend in baseball today. Teams want to win but seem more careful than ever about giving relievers long-term deals.

Still, they’ll spend big on annual value and make bold moves to fill out their rosters. The Dodgers just grabbed their top closer for a record price.

The Braves answered with their own mix of depth and spending. Honestly, the National League arms race just got even wilder.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Braves Reportedly Made Five-Year Offer To Edwin Diaz