ORLANDO, Fla. — Coming into the offseason, the Dodgers signaled that they would be conservative when it came to pursuing help in the bullpen.
Turned out, they were quietly plotting one of the most surprising — and impactful — signings of the winter.
In a blockbuster move on Tuesday, the team agreed to a three-year, $69-million deal with top free-agent closer Edwin Díaz, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, snatching the three-time All-Star and three-time Reliever of the Year award winner in a move that will transform their previously shaky bullpen.
Díaz, 31, was the consensus best relief pitcher in this year’s free-agent class. Over his nine-year career, he has a 2.82 ERA and 253 saves. This past season with the New York Mets, he had one of his best campaigns, posting a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves in 31 opportunities.
That track record positioned Díaz to be the highest-paid reliever on this year’s market, with most projections pegging him for a five-year deal. Because of that, the Dodgers appeared to be long shots to sign him, with the club believed to prefer a shorter-term contract after watching their big relief signings last offseason (namely Tanner Scott) struggle in a bullpen that ranked just 21st in ERA.
However, in recent weeks, the Dodgers’ approach had begun to subtly shift.
The team had strong interest in Devin Williams before he signed with the Mets — staying in the running even as Williams’ bidding reached the level of multiyear offers.
They were in talks this week with Robert Suarez, another high-powered arm likely to sign a multiyear contract.
And on Tuesday morning, they emerged as a surprise finalist for Díaz, reportedly along with the incumbent Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.
Still, in an offseason the Dodgers had repeatedly downplayed their need for a big splash, Díaz appeared to be more of a long shot, thanks to his high expected price tag and the fact that, after turning down a qualifying offer from the Mets at the start of the offseason, he would cost whatever club signed him a pick in next year’s draft.
In past years, such factors might have swayed the Dodgers to explore a more conservative path to bolster their bullpen.
But now, coming off back-to-back World Series championships and bathing in pools of cash thanks to a Shohei Ohtani-driven revenue boost, the club has demonstrated a different line of thinking.
For top talent, they have few financial reservations — especially on shorter-term, higher annual average value deals like the one Díaz signed, which will set an AAV record (at $23 million per year) for free-agent relief pitchers.
