Mets extend qualifying offer to Edwin Diaz as big free agency decision looms

If he signs elsewhere, Edwin Díaz would leave the Mets mostly empty-handed … but not completely empty-handed. 

In what amounted to a formality Thursday, the Mets extended a qualifying offer toward their closer that will be rejected.

If Díaz signs with another club, the Mets would receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round in next year’s draft. 

After Díaz opted out of the final two years and the roughly $37 million remaining on his contract, he certainly will decline the one-year, $22.025 million offer that will slightly dampen his market, costing a non-Mets team that signs him in draft capital. 

The Mets, though, remain a strong contender for his services in part because of a trust in Díaz, who returned to his dominant self last season, and in part because of their thin internal bullpen options. 

Díaz, who signed a five-year, $102 million pact after the 2022 season, missed all of ’23 with the torn patellar tendon, was respectable but not incredible during a 20-save, 3.52-ERA ’24 campaign and then looked fully back to his elite self last season when he allowed just 12 earned runs in 66 ¹/₃ innings (1.63 ERA), struck out 98 and logged 28 saves.

His excellence during his age-31 season made his opt-out decision an easy one. 

If Díaz leaves, the Mets do not have a ready-made replacement. A.J. Minter opted into the final season of his contract but is coming off lat surgery.

Brooks Raley will be back, but Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto and Ryne Stanek are free agents. 

Edwin Díaz is set to hit free agency. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Potential closers on the free-agent market include Helsley, Robert Suarez, Devin Williams, Emilio Pagan, Raisel Iglesias and Luke Weaver. 

The Mets claimed two players off waivers: lefty José Castillo, who had bounced on and off the 40-man roster this season, and utilityman Ji Hwan Bae. 

Castillo was picked up from the Orioles, who had claimed him from the Mariners in September. Before that, the 29-year-old had been designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks in May and traded to the Mets, with whom he pitched well (2.35 ERA in 16 games) and pitched sporadically (DFA’d three times by the Mets before Seattle grabbed him). 

Bae, a former big-time international signing, has not hit (.586 OPS in 163 games) in stints in the majors over four seasons with the Pirates. 

The 26-year-old, who still has a minor league option remaining, has mostly played second base and center field at the major league level and is coming off a strong Triple-A season in which he posted an .805 OPS with 23 steals in 67 games. 

The Mets’ new-look coaching staff is coming together. 

The Mets plan to hire Tim Leiper as their third base coach, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported Thursday, after the baseball lifer had served in the same role (plus infield coach) for the Padres the past two years. 

Leiper, a career minor leaguer who had stints with Mets affiliates in the ’90s, began his coaching career with the Mets in 1996 and climbed his way through various organizations before becoming the Blue Jays’ major league first base coach from 2014-18. 

San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado (13) celebrates with third base coach Tim Leiper after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in San Diego. AP

Leiper will take over for Mike Sarbaugh, who is among the many on the 2025 coaching staff gone after the disastrous, playoff-less season. 

As part of the overhaul, the Mets have named Jeff Albert as their director of hitting and Troy Snitker as a hitting coach. Kai Correa will be bench coach under returning manager Carlos Mendoza.

The Mets are expected to hire Justin Willard as pitching coach. 

Pete Alonso and Juan Soto were named National League Silver Slugger winners at first base and in the outfield, respectively. 

For Alonso, who knocked 38 homers and posted an .871 OPS that was his best since his rookie season, the award for the best offensive player at his position represents his first.

Soto, who finished with 43 home runs, 38 stolen bases and a .921 OPS, now is a six-time winner. 

The Mets’ other finalist, Francisco Lindor, lost to Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop. 

Infielder Nick Madrigal, who signed a one-year split contract last winter before fracturing his shoulder in camp, elected free agency. 

Lefty Nate Lavender, whom the Rays chose in last year’s Rule 5 draft, was DFA’d after spending last season on the 60-day injured list.

If he clears waivers, the relief prospect would be offered back to the Mets.