The Mets extended a qualifying offer to closer Edwin Diaz on Thursday afternoon, the deadline for teams to qualify eligible free agents. The qualifying offer this season is $22.05 million.
The right-hander is expected to reject the offer to test the free agent waters. Last week, Diaz opted out of the final two years of his contract for nearly $33 million. This wasn’t an unexpected decision, and the 31-year-old has already said he would like to return to the Mets.
Diaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract after the 2022 season. He missed the 2023 season after suffering a knee injury during the World Baseball Classic in March of the same year, but returned in 2024 to post a 3.52 ERA with 20 saves in 54 appearances.
In 2025, he was elite once again. Diaz posted a stifling 1.63 ERA, finishing with a sub-2.00 ERA for the fourth time in his career. He converted 28 saves and was named an All-Star for the third time, his second time with the Mets. Despite some early bumps in the season, Diaz reduced his walk rate and home run rate, finishing the season with a 248 ERA+, the second-best of his career.
Hitters had a .133 average on his four-seam fastball, which remains a deadly offering. They hit .179 off of his slider and slugged .269, whiffing on the pitch 44% of the time. From April 26-June 1, Diaz did not allow an earned run, a span of 13 games. After allowing one June 2 at Dodger Stadium, he then started another streak of 19 games without an earned run (one unearned allowed), striking out 28 of the 76 batters he faced and walking only six in 19 1/3 innings.
Since being traded to the Mets from the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2019 season, Diaz owns a 2.93 overall ERA and 144 saves, the third-most in team history.
Last season, Diaz was paid more than $21 million and will be able to earn more in free agency, whether that’s from the Mets or another team.
Players can only receive a qualifying offer once. Diaz was one of 13 players who were issued one. If the Mets fail to re-sign him, the team that does will have to forfeit a draft pick.
