Just four months into his first season with the Mets, ballyhooed winter acquisition Edwin Diaz has already emerged a potential trade chip amid a disappointing campaign. The Braves, Dodgers, Rays and Blue Jays are among the teams in on the right-handed closer, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Andy Martino of SNY.tv passes along different information on the Braves, tweeting there’s “no traction” on Diaz to Atlanta.
The fact that Atlanta, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay are rumored to have interest in Diaz isn’t a shock. They’re all contending teams that are known to be in the market for bullpen help. The inclusion of rebuilding Toronto looks especially intriguing on paper, though it’s possible Diaz wouldn’t ever throw a pitch for the Blue Jays. The club could instead acquire Diaz and flip him to the Braves – one of the Mets’ division rivals – for prospects, according to Puma.
It’s the latest creative trade idea involving Diaz, whom the Mets are reportedly considering putting in a package with righty starter Zack Wheeler before Wednesday’s deadline. But whether anyone will even be able to pry Diaz out of New York is up in the air. Diaz was rookie general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s signature offseason addition, so BVW has predictably indicated it would take an enormous return for the Mets to deal him away so soon.
Van Wagenen, for his part, surrendered two of the game’s top prospects – outfielder Jarred Kelenic and righty Justin Dunn – in a package for Diaz and second baseman Robinson Cano. The Mets also took on $100MM of Cano’s remaining money to get Diaz, but the trade has blown up in the non-contending club’s face so far. The typically great Cano may be deteriorating at the age of 36, while Diaz hasn’t been able to match his otherworldly 2018 swan song in Seattle.
The hard-throwing Diaz arrived in New York as a celebrated bullpen savior after closing 57 of 61 opportunities, posting a 1.96 ERA/1.61 FIP and logging 15.22 K/9 against 2.09 BB/9 in 73 1/3 innings last season. The Mets’ version has been lit up for a 4.81 ERA over 39 1/3 frames and blown as many saves as he did last season (in 35 fewer chances). The home run ball has been a major concern this year for Diaz, who yielded HRs on a career-best 10.6 percent of flies in 2018. That figure has shot to a personal-worst 17.9 percent this season as his groundball numbers have fallen precipitously.
Even factoring in the difficulties Diaz has endured in 2019, there’s plenty to like – including his 97 mph heat, pre-2019 track record and the 3.50 FIP, 13.96 K/9 and 2.97 BB/9 he has logged this season. Diaz has also suffered from poor luck, it seems, evidenced in part by a .407 batting average on balls in play against and a wide gap between the .336 weighted on-base average/.271 xwOBA that hitters have recorded off him.
Diaz may be a prime candidate for a turnaround, which – coupled with his team control – helps make him extremely attractive to the Mets and other clubs. The 25-year-old’s earning just over $600K this season and will go through the first of three potential trips through arbitration over the winter. However, whether he’ll do so as a Met or as a member of another team is now surprisingly in question.
Diaz to LA for Yadi Alvarez and Russel Martin
I really hope this is a joke
I’m a Dodger fan, but I hope your kidding.
Riley straight up if we not gonna get Greinke
If we go for Greinke we need Riley to take over for Donaldson after next year
If we go for Díaz we resign JD for 2 years with option for 3rd
What is with you wanting to trade Riley so bad? He’s going to be be huge for the Braves for years to come.
you gotta be willing to give something up in order to get something
3B is arguably our deepest position and closer is our biggest weakness
The window has begun and it’s time to stop hoarding prospects and start choosing who is a part of our future
Donaldson, Camargo or Riley can all be our future at 3B
Riley is not a good OF under any circumstance
Any of our Top 5 prospects have a level of untouchable and we need to fill a hole somehow
Maybe if AA filled this hole in the offseason with nothing more than money maybe we wouldn’t be needing to fill this hole right now
You have the opportunity to get a great closer you get that closer
If the Braves are smart they won’t let that happen. He’s another francoeur in that he can’t hit a slider away, let alone any decent breaking pitch right now. Trade he while he still has that new prospect smell and extend JD
The Mets will be the most interesting team to watch this deadline.
They’re usually interesting to watch all the time, thanks to the comedy factor. Always good for a laugh.
My head is spinning with all these Mets rumors
Synder and Diaz to Braves
Wright, Camargo, Minter, and Waters to Mets
Just awful that someone would propose that trade
BVW would be run out of Town if the Mets fans had to watch Diaz and Syndergaard crush them 18 times a year while Cano was calculating his capital gain obligations running out his dribblers to second base……….
AA hangs up the phone as soon as Brodie calls and proposes that.
if he does he’s a moron.
Screw it may as well throw Wheeler in there and you can get Wentz and Beck with Riley
Bizarre the Jays are in on Diaz, though earlier rumours did have the Mets interested in Stroman.
Possible multiple teams working one a big transaction.
Red Sox were also mentioned on Diaz earlier. Id be surprise to see the sox pull this off. Teams are also known to show interest in guys just to drive up value.
It’s not that bizarre.
Atkins has shown he’ll take on any asset that he thinks is undervalued… even if it doesn’t fit the contention timeline exactly.
Drury, McKinney, Giles, Aledmys Diaz, Grichuk… all examples of players picked up that were coming off down years and had less control than the Jays would like. If you can build them back up and trade them again later that’s a win.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Drury and McKinney have no value. Drury was better in AZ, and McKinney is now on his 4th team. And still not good.
As much as I would like Díaz on the Braves I can’t see the Mets making a deal with us
Imagine making that deal then getting closed out 12 outta 19 games next year lol
That would suck
Hey Brodie come get us !!!!!
Seems like the Mets or at least the media that follows them, wants attention before the 31th.
A’s going to get him then.
No way A’s trade away Puk or Luzardo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rather get Vazquez’s though
klentak you better not let the Braves get him
Maybe you should direct that to steelerbravenation. He seems to think he is part of the Braves organization.. He could have some fake influence.
Red Sox were also mentioned on Diaz earlier. Id be surprise to see the sox pull this off. Teams are also known to show interest in guys just to drive up value.
All this talk is ridiculous and will not help the team. I really don’t want to see the Mets make any moves. I think they shouldn’t be buyers or sellers. Any of these rumors will not help them this year or next. I may be in the minority, but I don’t think this season’s a lost cause yet. They’ve already won four of their five series since the All-Star Break and the next three series are very winnable. Mid-August will get tougher, but, if they’re already on a roll, they can compete with any of those teams.
Wow you really enjoy 70 win seasons
This is pretty simple. If anyone wants either of these guys it’ll take a big overpay. The Braves aren’t getting anyone off the Mets except maybe wheeler for any package that doesn’t include Riley. The dodgers can get Diaz…if they part with a kiebert Ruiz and probably another big prospect. The Mets are probably looking for help at C, CF and pitching in any of these…
Terrible trade. I cannot believe how many clowns on here even think Riley will be traded at the deadline or in the near future.
I didn’t say Riley WOULD be traded. Just that’s what I think it would take to get the Mets to deal with the Braves. That’s all.
Well imo the only reason the Mets want to package these guys is to get a corner stone type player like…Riley…I would think if the Braves want these guys they would have to give him up or no trade
If somehow the Dodgers got Diaz they would have either one of the most lockdown or one of the most dumpster fire bullpens. Kelly, Jansen, and Diaz in any order with their stuff could throw three perfect innings, conversely they could also implode in 3 innings.
Exactly
Jansen’s days as Dodgers closer are numbered. He’s completely lost is mojo.
Wait! I thought the Phillies were the darling of the NLE!? Is this an article telling me they aren’t!? I’m mean giving up 24 runs do the division leader isn’t indicative at all. C’mon Bryce time for you to play all positions and earn that $300 million dollar contract ya bum! A-Rod earned a &250M one twice! Was he worth it and you’re just an ATV riding, not as good as Freeman, mercenary jock? I think so!
Lol. Thank you Mets, you have made our future optimistic
Mariners
Haven’t read a single comment..but I want to comment..Robinson Cano will be a productive player despite his negative contract and negative production of late..if you’re the Mets, why do you attempt to dump that contract in negotiations? I’d rather take another prospect instead of shedding money..you had a playoff team this year and this is your result..trade every single asset you have in a heart beat. Fire everyone. And I bet you’re better than the NL Central at least by next year. Also, Sox repeat and win the division…cue X Pac.
So you’d rather keep one of the 5 worst contracts in baseball that prevents you from spending to address other needs in favor of one prospect? Wow
This would mean that we gave away 2 blue chip prospects for absolutely nothing. Being a Mets fan is f#cking brutal.
I am very sorry
Maybe the Cardinals can pull off a deal and surprise everyone. Usually, they have a guy come off the DL right before the deadline and that counts as there big move. Hmmm, any Cardinals about to come off the DL? Shjt, Ozuna.
“Come and get us”
Sincerely,
BVG
(things not to say as a rookie..)
The only way this makes sense for the Jays is if they can get him for like 75 cents on the dollar and then flip once he rebounds. If they do the rumoured deal with Atlanta they’d pretty much forever end their trade opportunities with the Mets.
I didn’t really think it was going to happen until I read Baird and Minaya we’re both at minor league games scouting prospects
That seems to me to have the big dogs there they may be looking at the final pieces or at the teams they feel the most interested in
I don’t know but gonna make for a couple crazy days
Chavis for Diaz
I think it’s going to be the Rays who get Diaz. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rays already have a preliminary deal in place for Syndergaard and are working on what other prospects would need to be added to finalize a deal for both Syndergaard and Diaz.
Send Syndergaard to the Rays for Yonny Chirinos (25) and a very solid, (ERA around 3.00,under the radar starter, with 4+ years of control. OR Ryan Yarbrough(27) a similar LH’ed pitcher with a sub .400 ERA , very good control and WHIP and slightly less stuff. Add Brendan McKay (23), 11th rated pitching prospect in the minors and already off to a good start in his ML appearances with them. Make the deal more enticing by adding Josh Lowe (21), the Rays best defensive CF’er in their system and a year away from the majors.
Mets could even add Diaz to the deal and have the Rays add Rolando Hernandez their highest rated catcher and one of their 3rd base/IF ML depth players like Joey Wendle (29)/Daniel Robertson(25)/Christian Arroyo(24) to replace Frazier. Mets may have to include JD Davis in either deal if the Rays are looking for more back and needing a RH’ed bat.
The cheap Rays aren’t gonna give up the cost controlled Chirinos for an over priced, underperforming starter
Yeah I agree Chirinos is very very underrated and I’m scared of the rays trading up for a sexy name such as Syndergaard even though we have 5 healthy starters that can put up a sub 4 ERA
I’ll say again, the Mets won’t trade Syndergaard or Diaz. They are just wasting everyone’s time.
To all Mets fans out there.We are like lemmings walking to the sea.Until the Wilpons relinquish their ownership we are doomed to this nonsense.We see player after player come and go and nothing changes.We sign,we trade the method and thought process never changes,rebuild or stay the course you can not have it both ways.We have starting pitching that the rest of the league drools over but the defense is horrendous.We give up too many extra outs and strikeout like little t ball players.The frustration just pours out of our bodies.
Why don’t we all just go to the beach and read a good book…………LETS GO JETS!!!!!!!!.
I feel for you buddy I really do.
Mets fans! How’s this proposal
Mets get
Josh Lowe
Ian Gibaut
Christian Arroyo
Collin Poche
Rays get
Edwin Diaz
Dominic Smith