After being traded to the New York Mets from the Seattle Mariners during the 2018 offseason, Edwin Diaz struggled in his first year with the Mets. It seemed as if he couldn’t handle the New York spotlight, and Mets fans were panicking that they got absolutely robbed by the Mariners with top prospect Jarred Kelenic, whom the Mets traded to Seattle was dominating in the minors. Looking back on that trade almost 4 years later, Edwin Diaz has solidified himself as a top closer in baseball with the historical season he is putting together. How did he do this? How did Diaz go from being the guy Mets fans wanted traded at the 2020 deadline, to being the guy now Mets fans want Steve Cohen to empty his pockets for come this offseason.

Pitch Usage

From 2018-21 Diaz’s main pitch was his 4-Seamer. And although it was a dominant pitch in 2018 with a -14 Run Value, after that year his 4-Seamer was not as effective. Yet he kept using it as his main pitch. Thus far in 2022, Diaz’s slider has been his main pitch, using it 55.1% of the time. His slider has been one of the best in baseball with a 52.2 Whiff % and a whopping 57.8 K%. Hitters have a .164 SLG and .170 wOBA against Diaz’s slider and the pitch as a -14 Run Value. This all means that his slider is generating more swing and misses than ever, and when hitters do rarely make contact with that pitch, it’s only hit hard 32.6% of the time. Diaz using his slider as his main pitch has been a game changer for him and has elevated him to an elite reliever once again.

2022 Numbers

44 G

44.1 IP

1.42 ERA

1.54 xERA

0.90 FIP

0.66 xFIP

0.93 SIERA

17.86 K/9

2.44 BB/9

0.61 HR/9

48.5 GB%

2.2 fWAR

What makes these numbers so impressive is that they not only support Díaz's ERA, but suggests that he has pitched better than it. His 52.9 K% is the best in the league amongst relief pitchers, and he has no signs of slowing down.

Final thoughts

Edwin Diaz has solidified himself as a top closer in baseball and will make a lot of money this offseason in free agency. If he can continue to use his slider as his main pitch with the 4-Seamer as his secondary pitch, he will continue to generate as many swings and misses and soft contact as he does and remain a top closer in baseball for years to come.