Mets and Dodgers could be 'battling' for superstar free agent after $69 million Edwin Diaz clash

Many expected All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to return to the New York Mets this past offseason. 

Instead, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million contract. At $23 million per year, the deal set a league record for average annual value for a reliever. 

"The Dodgers played a hype video for Edwin Diaz at Dodger Stadium when his former team, the New York Mets, came in town," FanSided's Robert Murray wrote Thursday. "Some folks had an issue with it. I, however, did not." 

According to a December report from MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, the Mets' final offer to Diaz was three years and $66 million, with deferrals. The Dodgers edged New York's deal by just three million, but it made a difference. 

"One thing I did think was noteworthy: Steve Cohen, the Mets’ big-spending owner, was in attendance and witnessed it," Murray added. "Is that potentially on his mind with the Mets and Dodgers, among others, likely to be battling it out for superstar left-hander Tarik Skubal in free agency? Maybe I’m reaching. But it’s been on my mind." 

MORE: A magical no-hit bid for the Cleveland Guardians

Diaz and Skubal are different people and may approach free agency differently. But Cohen may not want to lose a player to the Dodgers again.

Perhaps Diaz's hype video at Dodger Stadium will make the Mets owner want to flex his financial muscle that much more. 

More MLB news:

• Explaining the absurdity of 2 MLB players named Max Muncy
• This hitter has a worse OBP than his batting average
• Mets have most depressing stat of this entire MLB season
• This slider is really good and moves the entirely wrong direction
• This second-generation relief pitcher is on an absurd wins pace