2 current NY Mets contracts David Stearns wouldn’t have offered, 1 he would have

Would David Stearns have signed Edwin Diaz to his current contract?

We can’t use Josh Hader as a reference point because the Milwaukee Brewers were never going to pay him the kind of money he’d command in free agency. The Mets operate differently. They do like to keep their star players and fan favorites. Letting Diaz go wouldn’t be about the money, but rather the idea of investing so much money in a reliever.

Of course, the Diaz deal hasn’t exactly paid for itself quite yet. He missed all of 2023 because of a freakish injury. Last year had its ups and downs. Even in a limited playoff sample, Diaz reminded us all he is human.

The Diaz contract isn’t bad, but it definitely isn’t one most executives would rush to make. The Mets paid him $21.5 million in each of the first two years and owe it to him again in 2025. Then come player options at $18.5 million for 2026 and 2027. Things finish off with a $20.4 million team option in 2028.

The opt outs and team option at the end help make both sides a little happier. Diaz can retest the market after 2025 if he chooses. A bad performance or another injury which seems to still affect him mentally might have him deciding against it.

Nothing of what Stearns has done with the Mets suggests he enjoys the idea of paying relievers. I do believe he would have made Diaz a fair offer but a lesser one in value and years.