"Edwin Diaz couldn’t handle the New York smoke” - MLB analyst goes scorched earth on Dodgers' latest 3-year $69M signing

All-Star closer Edwin Diaz's free agency saga ended on Tuesday after the former New York Mets reliever signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Diaz, who opted out of his Mets contract at the end of last season to test free agency, was linked with a return to the Mets. The All-Star closer was also linked with a move to the New York Yankees over the last few days.

MLB analyst Sal Licata flamed Diaz for choosing the Dodgers by reportedly declining a similar three-year deal worth $66 million from the Mets.

"I don't go to many games anymore but I can't wait to go to Citi Field when Diaz comes back as a Dodger," Licata said. "I will play the trumpets on Diaz's ass when he comes back out and hope to stick it to him and speaking to stick it to him, how about the sticky stuff that he had to use to get suspended in 2024.

"Let's not make it look like that Diaz was some Saint here with the New York Mets, he was the worst closer that I've ever seen in 2019. He couldn't handle the New York smoke anymore. Poor Edwin, see you later. Good riddance."

Diaz had opted out of the five-year Mets contract worth $102 million he signed in 2023, leaving two years and $38 million on the table. The

Dodgers president acknowledged the cost of signing Edwin Diaz this offseason

Edwin Diaz rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets after last season, meaning his signing with the Dodgers will cost them a draft pick. The Dodgers will reportedly lose their second and fifth-highest selections in the 2026 Draft.

However, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman knew the cost of signing the All-Star reliever.

“I mean, it's a real cost, so try to bake it in and factor it into the decision," Friedman said. "You never want to be flippant about this, but we have a really strong and deep farm system. And so it at least helps mitigate it some, but it's a real cost associated.”

The Dodgers have signed a high-profile reliever for a second consecutive offseason as the reigning World Series winners signed Tanner Scott on a four-year, $72 million deal before the start of the 2025 season.