Mets Still Pursuing Edwin Díaz Despite Williams Signing

The New York Mets are walking a tightrope with their bullpen-options-with-or-without-edwin-diaz/”>bullpen plans this offseason. They’re balancing the recent addition of Devin Williams with a continued push to bring back elite closer Edwin Díaz.

Díaz wants a massive five-year deal, while the Mets prefer a shorter commitment. This standoff has become one of the winter’s most intriguing relief-pitcher storylines and could reshape the late-inning scene in Queens.

The Mets’ Bullpen Blueprint: Williams In, Díaz Still Possible

On paper, the Mets already made a major bullpen splash by signing Devin Williams to a three-year contract. That move upgrades the late innings, but it hasn’t closed the door on a Díaz reunion.

The front office seems determined to keep its options open while building a dominant bullpen. They’re not rushing to make any final calls just yet.

Why Edwin Díaz Still Matters to the Mets

Edwin Díaz remains the centerpiece of the Mets’ ideal bullpen scenario. Even after signing Williams, the Mets keep talking with Díaz’s camp, knowing few relievers can match his impact.

Díaz reportedly wants a five-year contract in the $100 million range, which would put him near the top of the closer market historically. The Mets, though, are more comfortable with a three-year deal at a premium annual value to limit long-term risk but still pay Díaz like an elite reliever.

He’s pegged his chances of returning to Queens at about “50-50”, showing just how delicate these negotiations are. Díaz already turned down the Mets’ qualifying offer, making it clear he wants a long-term payday instead of a short-term reset.

Devin Williams’ Role: Closer, Setup Man, or Something in Between?

The Mets’ signing of Williams could have signaled a pivot away from Díaz. Instead, it’s opened up the possibility of a dynamic one-two punch at the back end of the bullpen—if both pitchers end up in Queens.

Williams Open to Setting Up Díaz

One of the most interesting twists is Williams’ reported willingness to pitch in a setup role if Díaz returns as closer. That kind of flexibility from someone with ninth-inning experience gives the Mets some real strategic freedom.

If Díaz comes back, the Mets could use Williams as a high-leverage weapon in the seventh or eighth, instead of just slotting him as the closer. That would let manager Carlos Mendoza (or whoever’s in charge) do things like:

• Match up Williams against the heart of the lineup, no matter the inning
• Lighten Díaz’s workload over a 162-game grind
• Shorten games, making leads after six innings a lot safer

If Díaz doesn’t return, Williams probably steps into the closer role by default. But then the Mets still need to find more arms to fill out the bullpen.

Díaz vs. Williams: Impact, Upside, and Risk

Both pitchers have big names, but the Mets clearly see Díaz as a cut above when he’s on.

Numbers That Explain the Priority on Díaz

Díaz just wrapped up a dominant season with a 1.63 ERA over 66 1/3 innings and a wild 38% strikeout rate. That kind of dominance isn’t something you see every day, even now. When he’s locked in, Díaz is basically a run prevention system by himself.

Williams, while electric at times, feels like a bit more of a calculated gamble after an uneven year with the Yankees. The stuff is there, the upside’s obvious, but there’s less certainty. Díaz just feels like the safer bet to anchor a championship-caliber bullpen.

Market Pressure: Other Teams Chasing Díaz

The Mets aren’t negotiating in a vacuum. Multiple contenders have been linked to Díaz, which only drives up the urgency and price.

Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, Yankees, Red Sox in the Mix

The Toronto Blue Jays have been steady suitors, but they’re not alone. The Dodgers, Giants, Yankees, and Red Sox have all been connected to Díaz, creating a bidding pool that stretches across both coasts and all sorts of payrolls.

For the Mets, that competition means a couple things:

• They’ll probably need to get closer to Díaz’s preferred contract length or value to get a deal done
• Letting him walk could weaken their own bullpen and strengthen a direct rival or playoff threat

Beyond Díaz and Williams: The Rest of the Bullpen Puzzle

Even with Williams signed and Díaz in play, the Mets still need to flesh out their late-inning mix. It’s not just about one or two stars—it’s about building a group that can survive injuries, slumps, and the long haul.

Free Agents and Internal Options

The relief market is packed with familiar names. The Mets have been linked to or have considered arms like:

• Tyler Rogers
• Ryan Helsley
• Gregory Soto
• Ryne Stanek

All are either free agents now or expected to be available, so the Mets have options to bolster the bridge to the ninth. If Díaz doesn’t return, Huascar Brazoban stands as the most established right-handed setup option in-house, but he’s probably better as part of a committee than the main late-inning guy.

The Bottom Line: Mets Still Betting on Elite Late-Inning Talent

The Mets signing Devin Williams took some pressure off re-signing Edwin Díaz. Still, Díaz remains a tempting option.

Pairing Díaz with Williams could instantly create one of baseball’s toughest bullpens. That kind of duo would totally shift the Mets’ late-inning reputation.

Right now, things are at a standstill. Díaz wants a five-year deal, but the Mets are only comfortable with three.

Other big-market teams are lurking, just waiting to see what happens. If the two sides can’t find common ground, the Mets might settle for a decent bullpen instead of a truly dominant one—especially when October rolls around.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mets Still Pursuing Edwin Díaz