Dodgers Sign Edwin Díaz to Record-Breaking Contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone out and brought in their new closer, signing Edwin Díaz to a record-breaking three-year contract.
After becoming the first team in 25 years to win back-to-back World Series Championships, the Los Angeles Dodgers are not slowing down. L.A. has signed right-handed reliever Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.
At $23 million in average annual value, the deal sets an AAV record for relief pitchers, one that Díaz himself previously owned.
Díaz and his iconic 9th inning walk-in have been a dominant force throughout the 2020s. Since the start of the decade, he owns a 2.36 ERA and 2.15 FIP. Despite missing the entirety of the 2023 season due to a torn patellar tendon, he ranks tied for second in fWAR (9.0) among all relief pitchers in this span.
This is thanks to his 40.8% strikeout rate over the last six seasons, which trails only Mason Miller among qualified relievers.
How Edwin Díaz Fits on the Dodgers
Despite winning the World Series last year, the 9th inning was a point of weakness for the Dodgers down the stretch in the regular season. In the month of September, the team combined for a 4.71 ERA in the 9th, the ninth-highest in the big leagues. L.A.’s five blown saves in the final month of the regular season were tied for the fourth-most.
These numbers were a byproduct of a disappointing and injury riddled season for Tanner Scott, who had signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers ahead of the 2025 season. Scott threw to a 8.68 ERA in his final 12 regular season appearances before landing on the IL for the postseason. He finished his debut season in L.A. with a 4.74 ERA and 4.36 FIP.
These late season struggles forced Dave Roberts to throw Roki Sasaki in as the team’s closer upon his return from a lengthy IL stint. Although things got shaky in the playoffs, Sasaki made it work; posting a 0.84 ERA and 3.70 FIP in 10.2 postseason innings.
The addition of Díaz not only solidifies the 9th inning for the Dodgers, it also allows them to ease Sasaki back into a rotation spot and take pressure off Scott. In 2025, Díaz pitched to a phenomenal 1.63 ERA and 2.28 FIP in 66.1 innings. It was a vintage year for Díaz, who ranked in the top five among all qualifying pitchers in xERA (2.45) xBA (.170) K% (38.0%) and Whiff% (41.5%)
The powerful offense and masterful starting pitching that the Dodgers boast needs no introduction. But a dynamic bullpen led by Díaz and Scott not only reaffirms L.A. as the favorites to win another World Series, it makes the case that the 2026 Dodgers could be the best iteration we’ve seen of this team throughout this era of dominance.
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Daniel Curren is a writer with Just Baseball. He loves sabermetrics, baseball history, and the Hall of Fame.