Source: Díaz agrees to record-setting contract

Edwin Díaz is now a free agent, and MLB.com is tracking the latest rumors surrounding the 28-year-old closer.

Read all about Díaz here.

Nov. 6: Source: Mets, Díaz agree to 5-year, $102 million deal
Díaz and the Mets struck the first big move of the offseason Sunday as the sides agreed on a five-year contract worth $102 million, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The team has yet to confirm the signing, which is pending a physical.

The contract would be the largest for a reliever in MLB history, surpassing Aroldis Chapman's five-year, $86 million pact with the Yankees.

Díaz was phenomenal this past season, recording a 1.31 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 32 saves in 35 opportunities. His 17.1 K/9 rate was the second highest ever posted by a relief pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched, trailing only Chapman's 17.7 in 2014.

Nov. 4: The first $100M reliever contract?
It’s widely expected that Díaz’s next contract will be the largest ever signed by a reliever, surpassing Aroldis Chapman’s $86 million, five-year contract with the Yankees.

It remains to be seen just how high teams will go to sign the All-Star closer, but one early estimate has Díaz climbing into the nine-figure range.

Writing for the New York Post, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman consulted with an outside expert who predicted Díaz’s next contract: five years, $105 million.

Such a deal would also shatter the average annual value record for relievers, currently owned by Liam Hendriks at $18 million.

In assessing the potential market for the right-hander, Heyman listed the Dodgers, Yankees and Cardinals in addition to the Mets, Díaz’s team for the past four seasons.

Oct. 9: Díaz could challenge for RP contract record
Re-signing Jacob deGrom (assuming he opts out) may be the Mets’ top priority this offseason, but the club has a long list of notable players set to reach free agency.

That includes Díaz, who finished 2022 with a 1.31 ERA, 32 saves and 118 strikeouts over 62 innings. With a fastball that regularly tops triple digits and a wipeout slider, Díaz is one of the game’s elite closers, and he could challenge for the largest deal ever signed by a reliever.

The record currently belongs to Aroldis Chapman, who signed a five-year, $86 million deal with the Yankees after the 2016 season.

There's a steep dropoff between Díaz and this year's other top free-agent relievers, including Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, Michael Fulmer, Brad Hand, Taylor Rogers, David Robertson, Corey Knebel, Alex Colomé and Adam Ottavino, so there could be widespread interest in the 28-year-old.