Mets Owner Steve Cohen Talks Edwin Diaz Replacement Plan
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Even Steve Cohen has his limits.
The Mets likely lost elite closer Edwin Diaz for the season after he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee at the World Baseball Classic. But Cohen, the billionaire owner, says they aren't panicking.
“When you get into a situation like this, I think you stay calm, you don’t overreact,” Cohen said on The Show: A NY Post baseball podcast with Joel Sherman & Jon Heyman Wednesday when asked about potentially trading for Díaz’s younger brother Alexis Diaz, the Reds reliever. “I think if you do, [you have] the tendency to make mistakes or overpay for somebody.”
The Mets have some depth in the backend of the bullpen, and because of that, Cohen indicated that they are in no rush to make an external move to replace Diaz.
“We’re going to assess the people we have,” Cohen said. “We have some reasonably good depth. It’s a long season, and opportunities come up along the way and that’s how we’re gonna approach it. So, if we need to fill a hole, we’ll fill it, but I don’t see a need to overreact.”
David Robertson is the probable closer replacement for Diaz. Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley may also get some save chances.
Diaz blew out his knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's upset victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. While a return in 2023 is unlikely, The Athletic's Will Sammon reported that there is some optimism that Diaz can make it back to pitch late in the season.
Diaz was the best closer in the game in 2022, posting a 1.31 ERA with 118 strikeouts and 17.1 K/9 in 62 innings for the Mets.
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