Edwin Díaz

When Edwin Diaz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, the rich became richer. Last year, Diaz allayed any concerns that he could not return to his elite closer status after missing the 2023 season with a serious knee injury. While his 28 saves in 2025 may not seem elite, only 10 pitchers recorded more saves last year. And none of those 10 pitchers had read more...

When Edwin Diaz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, the rich became richer. Last year, Diaz allayed any concerns that he could not return to his elite closer status after missing the 2023 season with a serious knee injury. While his 28 saves in 2025 may not seem elite, only 10 pitchers recorded more saves last year. And none of those 10 pitchers had more strikeouts than Diaz (98). In fact, Mason Miller was the only pitcher to record at least 20 saves and more strikeouts than Diaz in 2025. You can compare Diaz's 2.49 xERA (expected ERA) with his 1.63 ERA, raising concerns about regression in 2026. Given Diaz's 2.49 xERA, ranked in the 98th percentile, even if his ERA regresses toward the expected number, it will still be elite. Collectively, the Dodgers bullpen recorded 46 saves in 2025 while amassing 25 blown saves. There's no reason to believe Diaz won't be able to top 30 saves in 2026, even if his new team blows out more opponents than the Mets did last season. Diaz is justifiably being taken as the number one reliever in drafts, and there's no reason to believe he won't end the year as the number one-ranked relief pitcher.less...