Dodgers make blockbuster reliever signing after tricking fans into thinking otherwise

On the first full day of Winter Meetings, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers didn't feel like they had to make a big splash this offseason. It's been LA's party line since their World Series win; GM Brandon Gomes said much of the same at GM Meetings a few weeks earlier.

Still, there is no underestimating the Dodgers and their bottomless resources, and anyone still side-eyeing LA despite Roberts' and Gomes' claims had the right idea.

On Tuesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Dodgers were in agreement with top free agent closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million deal.

So much for no big splashes.

The Dodgers have been loosely connected to Díaz throughout the offseason, despite their insistence in the belief that Tanner Scott will have a bounce back 2026 and be in the mix for late innings. Díaz's signing puts that to bed for good. Despite their interest in and even offers to Raisel Iglesias, Devin Williams, and Ryan Helsley, none would've been as clear a successor as Díaz.

Dodgers reach agreement with closer Edwin Díaz on Day 2 of Winter Meetings

With how quickly the reliever market has moved, it made sense that the Dodgers would make a deal or two at Winter Meetings, but with the way Roberts and Gomes tried to spin it, fans were on the lookout for a name like Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks (who they still could/might sign) would've been a good addition, but he certainly doesn't carry the same weight as Díaz.

The Mets' prized former closer is coming off of a 66 1/3 inning, 1.63 ERA season — his third All-Star year — with 48 games finished and 28 saves. Despite a rocky start to 2025 (he had a 4.50 ERA at the end of April), he gave up just a single earned run over the next three months. The Mets' mortifying collapse at the end of the season could in large part be blamed on their pitching, but Díaz kept his side of the street clean. He gave up just one earned run in 14 2/3 innings in September.

Díaz's deal is smaller than the one Scott got last offseason, but at a $23 million AAV for Díaz — a new record for a reliever — there's absolutely no way anyone other than him is going to be on the mound in high-leverage late innings next season.