The uneasy Edwin Diaz choices facing Mets as closer’s opt-out decision looms

The Mets waited until the brink of Edwin Díaz reaching free agency after the 2022 season to finalize a five-year, $102 million contract with the All-Star closer that kept him from testing the market.

Once again, the Mets are potentially on the clock. Díaz, like teammate Pete Alonso, has an opt-out that can be triggered the day after the World Series concludes, and team brass — owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns — will likely have to decide how far they are willing to extend to retain Díaz.

As it stands, Díaz is owed $37 million over the final two years of his contract. The Mets hold a club option on him for 2028 worth $17.25 million.

If Díaz opts out, the Mets will likely extend him a qualifying offer that would possibly dampen his market given that any team signing him would have to surrender a draft pick.