2 acceptable Edwin Diaz replacements, and 1 to avoid like the plague for the NY Mets

Avoid- Devin Williams

Any Met fan who lives in the New York City Metropolitan area knows just how brutal the New York sports market can be to a player. And if you reside in that area, you likely know a lot of Yankees fans. If you were paying attention last season, Yankees fans weren't too pleased with a specific reliever who sits among the top of the food chain in free agency. He is Devin Williams, and under no circumstance should the Mets look to sign him.

For starters, Devin Williams is likely to demand a salary between $12 and $20 million. This represents a big difference from Spotrac's valuation of $5.7 million for a one-season commitment. He'll likely garner attention given his relatively young age, but the numbers don't tell the story of a great reliever in his prime. They tell the story of one going in the wrong direction.

In 2025, his hits per 9 skyrocketed from 4.2 to 6.5. His WHIP jumped from 0.969 to 1.129. His ERA+ nosedived from 338 to 85. And his WAR dropped from 1.4 to -0.3. It's hard to decline much worse than Williams did a season ago.

Additionally, I'm always skeptical of an athlete who struggles after transitioning from a smaller market to a big market, as Williams did going from Milwaukee to New York. I can't guarantee that was the root of his problems, but I wouldn't risk $12+ million on a guy who we literally just saw fail to live up to the hype in the big city.

As I've outlined, there are serviceable options to replace Edwin Diaz if the need arises. I hope the Mets don't get desperate. Taking a risk on Williams would reek of desperation to me.