NEW YORK — Among the most important aspects of the Mets agreeing to terms with former Brewers closer Devin Williams on a three-year contract Monday is the fact that, according to multiple sources, the team is still interested in re-signing Edwin Díaz as well.
Williams is open to the idea of setting up for Diaz, according to a source, much as he did for Luke Weaver at times last season in the Yankees’ bullpen.
Should the Mets pursue such a strategy, they would attempt to build a high-octane back of their bullpen for the second time in a year, after trading for Ryan Helsley at the 2025 Trade Deadline. That acquisition did not work out, as Helsley battled pitch-tipping issues and completed his Mets tenure with a 7.20 ERA.
Of course, the acquisition of Williams does not guarantee the Mets will re-sign Díaz — not by a long shot. It simply keeps the option open. In that context, the signing does two things: protect the Mets in the event that Díaz signs elsewhere, while fortifying the bullpen in the event that he does.
At the outset of the offseason, Díaz opted out of the final two years and $38 million remaining on his contract, in search of a longer term and additional riches. He subsequently rejected the Mets’ one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer, which was merely a formality. That move guaranteed the Mets Draft-pick compensation should Díaz sign elsewhere.
Along the way, big-market teams such as the Dodgers and Blue Jays have become linked to Díaz, who produced a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves last season. Díaz has maintained since the end of the season that he’d be happy to return to Queens, but he recently characterized the chances as “50-50.”
“I like the team. I like the organization,” Díaz said at the MLB Awards last month in Las Vegas. “They came with the best deal for me [three years ago], and I really enjoyed staying with them. But at the end of the day, I don’t know what they are thinking.”
Díaz, a trade acquisition of the Mets in December 2018, signed a five-year, $102 million contract with them after four seasons in New York. He missed the entire ’23 campaign rehabbing from knee surgery but has been reliable since that time, producing a 2.48 ERA over the last two seasons.
The longtime closer will be 32 on Opening Day, making him younger than most of the established ninth-inning options on the open market, including Robert Suárez and Kenley Jansen. He is also among the most decorated, with 253 career saves and three All-Star appearances. About two-thirds of that production has come in Flushing.
“Like I say always, I love New York,” Díaz said last month. “I would love to stay in New York. But if I have to go to another place, I would be happy and want to win a ring. Wherever I go, I want to win a ring and enjoy the time.”
It remains to be seen how aggressively the Mets will pursue Díaz with Williams in the fold, but they are at least interested, according to sources. In addition to Williams, the Mets have two returning left-handed setup men in A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley, but little depth behind those arms. Huascar Brazobán leads the list of other internal options, with untested prospects Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert projected to play roles at some point in 2026.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has maintained all along that the Mets have the financial flexibility to remain aggressive on the open market. In addition to pursuing Díaz and potentially other relievers, they are still seeking acquisitions in the rotation, at first base and in left field.
“You never know exactly how the back end of your bullpen is going to take shape,” Stearns said before acquiring Williams. “We have plenty of vacancies there, and I think we’ll have the opportunity to improve that area.”
