Edwin Díaz: Choosing Dodgers Over Mets ‘Wasn’t Easy’

The trumpets have officially left Flushing, and according to Edwin Díaz, leaving New York behind was ultimately a relatively straightforward decision.

Díaz was introduced as a Dodger wearing No. 3, formally closing the door on a seven-year run with the Mets. For fans hoping for additional drama, Díaz dismissed that notion, instead framing the move less as a breakup and more as a step toward something he believes guarantees wins.

“I want to first thank the ownership, Andrew, Brandon, to welcome me here,” Díaz said. “It will be a new experience for me and my family.”

He then made sure to acknowledge his former team, adding, “I want to say thank you to the Mets organization for what they did for me in the last years. I’m really, really happy with what I did there.”

When asked about leaving New York, Díaz admitted the separation wasn’t simple on a personal level.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “I spent seven years in New York. They treated me really good. They treated me great.”

But the explanation quickly turned competitive.

“I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization,” Díaz said. “I’m looking to win. And I think they have everything to win.”

That theme came up repeatedly. “I came here to win,” Díaz said. “That’s my goal, try to win another World Series with this great team.” When continually pressed on how the decision came together, he offered a blunt conclusion. “Picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”

Díaz also confirmed that his brother, Alexis, helped play a role in his decision.

“He told me that they are a really, really good organization,” Díaz said. “He told me that they are [a] really, really good organization. They treat every player like they are all really good players, that was something I was looking for.”

Asked about his role, Díaz spoke at length about the responsibility of closing, a role he held for the majority of his Mets tenure. “Being the ninth is a big responsibility because the ball is in your hand the last three outs of the game,” he said. “I think they are the toughest three outs in the game.”

Díaz will wear No. 3 in Los Angeles, a change from the No. 39 he wore in New York. With Roy Campanella’s number retired, the choice became personal. “I talked to my wife…we got three kids,” he said. “That’s the reason I picked number three, because my three sons.”

And yes, the entrance is coming with him. When asked about the fate of “Narco”, Díaz didn’t hesitate. “It would be fun,” he said. “I think that music gets the fans into it right away.” He looked to the moment Mets fans know well.

“I can’t wait for the first game of the season, come in the ninth with Timmy Trumpet and get the win.”

The Dodgers paid $69 million for a closer they believe fits their “championship caliber club,” as GM Brandon Gomes dubbed his squad.

The Mets, meanwhile, will now move on to Devin Williams. But listening to Díaz speak, it’s clear the separation wasn’t about money or emotion, rather, it was about a player who wanted a guarantee, and felt Los Angeles offered one that New York currently could not.

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