Diaz was his dominant self in 2025, ranking second among qualified relievers with a 1.63 ERA and 38% strikeout rate, while tying for fifth with a 0.87 WHIP. Perhaps his most impressive highlight was an absurd 33-game stretch during which he permitted only 1 ER, posting a 0.27 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 50:11 K:BB across 33.2 innings. Diaz didn't produce as many saves (T-11th) as some of the other full-time closers - he was limited to just five over the final two months as New York crumbled down the stretch - but his stability in the role was among the highest in the league. Given his outstanding performance, the right-hander declined his $18.5M option for 2026, which would have been a $3M pay cut compared to what he earned last year. The Mets extended a 1-year, $22.05M qualifying offer to Diaz, which the 2025 NL Reliever of the Year is expected to decline in favor of a multi-year contract. On average, the 31-year-old has been the second closer off the board in early 2026 drafts. Read Past Outlooks