MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand went through the top 30 free agents, reviewed a little about their history, and came away with three best fits. There really wasn’t much of a surprise for who’ll be a candidate to join the New York Mets roster. Just about every starting pitcher hitting the open market is a match and Feinsand was sure to throw them in there whenever he could.
Among those leaving the Mets, Edwin Diaz had some interesting landing spots. Along with staying put in Flushing, Feinsand named the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees as a potential fit.
No way Edwin Diaz turns heel on the Mets and signs with the Yankees, right?
If Diaz becomes a free agent, he’s sure to have the qualifying offer attached to him. He wouldn’t sign the $22.02 million deal for a season so even if the Mets don’t feel comfortable paying a relief pitcher–as good as he is–that kind of money for a season, the added protection is worth it. What’s the price of $4 million more for the best closer in the game?
The Yankees are losing several relievers in free agency. Luke Weaver, who may or may not end up as a starting pitcher again, as well as Devin Williams are free agents in a few days. But this team did add a lot of closer experience to their roster at the trade deadline. Camilo Doval didn’t meet expectations. David Bednar did.
It’s not a matter of whether or not the Yankees would like Diaz on their roster. Why wouldn’t they? It’s a matter of being a match and allocating their dollars toward him when they already have a superb option there in Bednar. Of course, Bednar has had ups and downs in his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees are better off with a backup plan for him rather than preemptively moving him from the closer role to becoming a setup guy.
The Yankees seem bound to sign Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker. They may even add a first baseman if they don’t think the position should belong to Ben Rice.
Diaz to the Bronx is a Fairytale for Yankees fans about to stay in folklore. As for the Orioles, we’ll believe they’ll pay a free agent when we see it. Their starting pitching staff was a mess outside of Trevor Rogers last year. Get that fixed first.
