Mets insider sheds light on why Edwin Diaz chose Dodgers over his former team

New York Mets insider Laura Albanese believes Edwin Diaz's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers was about far more than Dollars. Albanese claims communications breakdown, organizational uncertainty and shifting vision might have contributed to Diaz's decision.

Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers on Friday. The 31-year-old bullpen arm was with the Mets since 2019 and as such, was widely expected re-sign in free agency.

Albanese is a longtime Mets beat writer for Newsday. She shared his thoughts about Diaz's Dodgers move on Wednesday's episode of "West Coast Bias."

"With a guy like Edwin Diaz, when you hear Brandon Nimmo say 'I was taken aback by the trade' and you're like, 'well that's not great,'" Albanese said (Timestamp: 8:39). "And maybe you're friends with Pete Alonso and he's like, 'I don't see things going well.' You understand the changes coming."

The Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien last month. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, a day before Diaz signed with the Dodgers.

Nimmo was the longest tenured Mets player, while Alonso is the franchise leader in all-time home runs. As such, their departures shocked many Mets fans.

"And then you get the Devin Williams signing," Albanese added. "If you're Edwin Diaz, and from what we're told there was not a whole lot of communication about that to Edwin Diaz. If you see Devin Williams getting signed and maybe in your head you're like they don't want me."

Before he signed with the Dodgers, Edwin Diaz received a reported three-year, $66 million deal from the Mets. Albanese doesn't think Diaz would uproot his family and relationships in New York for Los Angeles for $3 million.

As Diaz didn't give Mets the opportunity for a counteroffer, Albanese hypthosezied that he felt unwanted by the NL East team. She also said Diaz might've felt that the Mets are not World Series contenders.

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Ex-Dodgers free agent influenced Edwin Diaz's decision

Free agent utility player Kike Hernandez is a compatriot of Edwin Diaz. They played together for Venezuela in multiple WBC tournaments. Hernandez recently disclosed his role in Diaz's free agency decision during an interview with David Vassegh.

"I let him know that, at the end of the day, you've got to do what's best for you and your family," Hernandez said (Timestamp: 6:12). "But the one thing that I can assure you is that if you end up with the Dodgers, you're not going to regret it one bit. You're going to be just fine. Your wife and kids are going to be just fine."

Hernandez played the last three seasons for the Dodgers. He previously played for the team from 2015 to 2020. The 34-year-old slugger was in integral part of the Dodgers last three World Series triumphs.

Edited by Safeer M S