“Picking the Dodgers was pretty easy” - Edwin Diaz gets brutally honest on reason about choosing LA over Mets

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed the best closer in free agency after they struck a three-year deal worth $69 million for three-time All-Star Edwin Diaz this week.

Diaz, who spent the last seven years of his MLB career with the New York Mets, became a free agent after opting out of his contract this offseason. The Mets reportedly offered him a $66 million deal, but Diaz chose to sign for the two-time defending World Series winners.

While Diaz said leaving the Mets "wasn't easy," singing for the Dodgers was straightforward for the three-time Reliever of the Year.

"It wasn't easy," Diaz said. "I spent seven years in New York. They treated me really good. They treated me great. I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization. I'm looking to win, and I think they have everything to win. Picking the Dodgers was pretty easy."

Edwin Diaz said his move to the Dodgers was influenced by his younger brother Alexis, who signed for the NL West team last year. Diaz reportedly reached out to former Dodgers utility star Kike Hernandez before his move to California.

Edwin Diaz checked many boxes for Dodgers, per Andrew Friedman

Although the Dodgers became the first team in more than two decades to win consecutive championships, the NL West team struggled with their closers last season.

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said Edwin Diaz "checked all the boxes" for them.

"I think just watching him compete over the years, seeing the selflessness in the postseason or in the last weekend of this year … whenever the game is potentially on the line,” Friedman said. “And it fits in really well with our culture and the selflessness of a lot of our superstar players.

"So many boxes were checked in our mind, but again, just a very high bar to say, ‘This person is our closer,’ and ‘Sugar’ checks all those boxes.”

Although Diaz missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury, the three-time All-Star has the third-most saves in the league since 2017. His addition to the Dodgers' roster has sparked talk of a historic three-peat by the NL West team.