Edwin Diaz Knee Injury Throws Mets A Curve; Closer May Be Out For Year

When major-league players left spring training camps for their World Baseball Classic teams on March 6, Mets manager Buck Showalter told TeamTISI
USA manager Mark DeRosa to be sure all players returned safely.

Just a week into the 20-team tournament, however, the Mets lost closer Edwin Diaz to a knee injury likely to keep him out for the entire 2023 season.

Diaz had just struck out the side in the ninth inning of Team Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park in Miami Wednesday night when he hurt his knee while celebrating on the mound.

MRI tests Thursday showed the pitcher injured his right patellar tendon. According to Mets general manager Billy Eppler, estimated recovery time from surgery to repair the injury is eight months.

Arguably the most indispensable player on the Mets, Diaz was about to start a five-year, $102 million contract that is the richest ever given to a relief pitcher. That deal, signed last Nov. 9 at the start of free-agent season, includes an opt-out clause after the 2025 season but otherwise extends through 2027 and has a club option for 2008.

The 28-year-old right-hander earned the contract with the best season of his career. He finished 2022 with 32 saves, 118 strikeouts, and a 1.31 earned run average in 61 appearances. He also made the All-Star team for the second time.

He was named National League Reliever of the Month three times in a row, in June, July, and August. He has won the award eight times since it was established in 2017.

It will be hard for the Mets to duplicate the work of Diaz, who led all relievers in both strikeouts and strikeout rate (50.2%). Diaz also joined Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel as the only closers to face at least 200 batters while maintaining a strikeout rate of at least 50%.

His entrance into games excited fans in Flushing because it was heralded by the strains of Narco, a triumphant tune played by Tommy Trumpet.

Barring a trade or late-season signing, the Mets are likely to deploy David Robertson, a 37-year-old veteran with closer experience, in the late-inning role. Another candidate is holdover Adam Ottavino, who pitched for the Mets last year.

Robertson received a one-year, $10 million contract to serve as bullpen insurance but the Mets never expected to make a claim so quickly.

Thanks in large part to Diaz, the Mets won 101 games last season but missed winning the National League East crown because the Atlanta Braves, who also won 101 times, took the season’s series from New York, 10-9.

The Mets have not won a pennant since 2015 or a world championship since 1986. Without the game’s most reliable closer, both those goals could become more difficult – even for a team with the highest payroll ($336,143,332 according to Spotrac).