Edwin Diaz defined his determination to depart the Mets for the Dodgers.
The nearer headed west for a three-year, $69 million contract with the two-time defending World Collection Champions over the identical phrases and $3 million fewer with the Mets — who reportedly “had some wiggle room” on their preliminary provide.
However it wasn’t simply in regards to the cash, the 31-year-old mentioned in his first Los Angeles press convention on Friday.
“It wasn’t simple. I spent seven years in New York — they handled me nice,” Diaz mentioned. “I selected the Dodgers as a result of they’re a successful group. I’m trying to win, and I feel they’ve the whole lot to win, so choosing the Dodgers was fairly simple.”
The three-time All-Star nearer acknowledged that he had choices in free company, however mentioned the Dodgers stood out resulting from their observe file.
And, sadly for Mets followers, he’s bringing the trumpets with him throughout the nation.
“It could be enjoyable. I feel that music will get into the followers immediately,” he mentioned of his high-octane “Narco” entrance. “That’s a pleasant walk-up track, so I can’t wait to, first recreation of the season, come within the ninth with Timmy Trumpet and get the W for the Dodgers.”
He’s not alone.
Diaz joins a loaded roster with a bevy of arms that must be within the World Collection combine all through his contract and past. And the Dodgers are longing for him to convey his recreation to their bullpen.
“I feel simply watching him compete over time, seeing the selflessness within the postseason or within the final weekend of this yr … every time the sport is probably on the road,” mentioned Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. “And it suits in very well with our tradition and the selflessness of a variety of our celebrity gamers. So many containers had been checked in our thoughts, however once more, only a very excessive bar to say, ‘This individual is our nearer,’ and ‘Sugar’ checks all these containers.”
“The chance so as to add any individual of this caliber to what’s already a very gifted bullpen was one thing that we weren’t positive was going to have the ability to truly come to fruition,” basic supervisor Brandon Gomes added.
“However we’re actually fired up that it did.”
