Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Diaz is "fully healthy" after completing his recovery from the patellar tendon surgery he required on his right knee last March, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Coming off a brilliant 2022 campaign in which he converted 32 of 35 save chances while posting a 1.31 ERA and striking out 118 over 62 innings, Diaz profiled as arguably the top closer in fantasy drafts heading into last spring, but his season was quickly torpedoed before it even started after he injured his knee while celebrating a win for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Diaz didn't experience any setbacks while completing what had been expected to be a six-month recovery from surgery, and though he had hoped to pitch at some point in September, the Mets chose not to activate him as they played out the string on a non-contending season. Mendoza wasn't willing to fully commit to Diaz being in store for a normal spring training, but the right-hander is seemingly facing no restrictions in his throwing program so far this offseason and should settle back into the closer's role for the Mets by the time Opening Day arrives.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Won't pitch in 2023
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The Mets announced Monday that Diaz (knee) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
A return for the final week of the regular season or the postseason might have been in play for Diaz if the Mets were in playoff contention, but the veteran closer won't be rushed back into action in light of the team's place in the standings. Since undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn patellar tendon suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Diaz has seemingly navigated the rehab process free of setbacks. He'll continue to throw bullpen sessions through the end of September and should be in store for a relatively normal offseason before he likely enters spring training without any restrictions. Diaz's continued absence should insulate Adam Ottavino as the Mets' top option for saves the rest of the way.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpens scheduled
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Diaz (knee) will throw at least one bullpen session at Port St. Lucie this week, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
While the Mets haven't provided a specific reason why the right-hander will take the mound in Florida rather than New York, the team's pitching lab is located at the Port St. Lucie complex. Time is running out for Diaz to make an appearance in the majors before the end of the regular season, but the team has yet to rule it out.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpen sessions this week
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Diaz (knee) is scheduled to throw two bullpen sessions this week in front of the Mets' major-league coaching staff, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Those workouts could go a long way toward determining whether Diaz will be allowed to pitch in the majors this season. That he's traveling with the Mets on their current road trip is a positive sign, but manager Buck Showalter continues to call it a week-to-week situation. The 29-year-old required surgery this spring after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Completes bullpen session
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Diaz (knee) threw a bullpen session Sunday and sported a fastball that sat around 93-to-95 miles per hour, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.
Diaz averaged 99 mph with his heater during the 2022 season, but Ragazzo notes that the right-hander didn't appear to be throwing at 100 percent effort. In any case, Diaz has reached a major milestone in his recovery from patellar tendon surgery by completing a bullpen session for the first time since suffering the knee injury in mid-March while playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. As has been the case since he underwent surgery, Diaz remained adamant Monday that his goal is to pitch again for the Mets in 2023. Even though the club isn't in playoff contention, Diaz could still get the green light to pitch for the big club in the closing weeks of the season if he navigates his throwing progression without any complications.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throws off mound Wednesday
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Diaz (knee) threw off a mound in the bullpen Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
It's not clear whether it was a regular bullpen session or a touch-and-feel situation, but either way, it's the first time Diaz has thrown from the rubber since he underwent patellar tendon surgery in March. Prior to Wednesday's session, he had done some throwing from the base of the mound. Diaz and the Mets have not ruled out a late-season return for the star reliever, but it's far from a guarantee that it will happen. Fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on him to contribute again until 2024.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throwing from base of mound
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Diaz (knee) recently began throwing from the base of the mound, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Diaz will continue the process for another week or so and could progress to full mound work after that, although Mets general manager Billy Eppler would not commit to that. "Let's just really focus on the process," Eppler said. "What are we doing today, and was today successful? Will we repeat today? And how many days would we repeat before we move to the next phase? When we get a chance to get some objective data as well as subjective data -- feedback from the player -- then we can see what comes next." Diaz has been holding out hope for a late-season return from patellar tendon surgery, but it's not a guarantee it will happen. With his team turning the page to 2024, they might decide it's not worth pushing Diaz to return this season.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throwing long toss
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Diaz (knee) played catch at Citi Field on Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Healy notes that Diaz was throwing from center field to the foul line in right field, a substantial distance as he ramps up his rehab program. The 29-year-old closer has stated that he wants to return this season from March surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, through he still has quite a few hurdles to clear and the Mets are currently 7.5 games back of the third wild-card spot in the National League. The Mets might rather have him focus toward getting fully healthy for spring training.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Aiming for return in 2023
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Diaz (knee) told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he believes he can join the Mets before the end of the season. "If everything keeps going how it's going, we've got a chance to pitch," said Diaz. "The trainers and doctors will decide, but I feel great. Let's see what's coming for us."
Mets general manager Billy Eppler initially announced in mid-March that Diaz would miss eight months -- thus the entire 2023 season -- after the closer suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's win over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Then came word in April that it could be closer to a six-month overall recovery process, which would point him toward a return sometime in mid-to-late September. Diaz has been doing some light jogging and other cardio workouts, though there's currently no timetable for when he might resume throwing.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Hopes to pitch in October
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Diaz (knee) said Wednesday that he's progressing well after surgery and believes he can return from the 60-day injured list in October, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "If everything goes well, I think I can be back quicker than eight months... I might throw this year," Diaz said.
Diaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee back on March 15 while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and later underwent surgery. The hard-throwing closer is presumed to be out for the regular season, and even a chance to help in the postseason should the Mets qualify seems unlikely at this juncture. Still, it's a positive sign that Diaz is making progress from the operation on his knee, and assuming he steers clear of any setbacks in the months to come, he looks like he'll at least be ready to go for the start of spring training next year.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Goes on 60-day IL
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The Mets placed Diaz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Diaz's move to the 60-day IL was fully expected after he recently underwent surgery to address a tore patellar tendon in his right knee, an injury he sustained while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's win over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. With Diaz facing an estimated six-month recovery from surgery, he appears unlikely to be available during the regular season, and even a return in October or November if the Mets make a deep playoff run seems implausible. Manager Buck Showalter has yet to name a new closer in Diaz's absence, though veteran relievers David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley look to be the most likely candidates to pick up saves.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Undergoes successful surgery
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Diaz underwent successful surgery to repair his patellar tendon Thursday.
Diaz tore his tendon during a celebration on the field after Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in Wednesday's World Baseball Classic matchup. He is expected to begin a rehab program in a week, but he is a long shot to pitch at any point in 2023.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Needs surgery, likely out for 2023
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Mets general manager Billy Eppler announced Thursday that Diaz (knee) will undergo surgery and is likely to miss the entire 2023 season, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Diaz suffered a complete tear of his right patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico's big win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. Eppler suggested that a return in six months would be the best-case scenario and that the usual timeline calls for eight full months of rest and rehab. David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley are among the options to step in at closer for the Mets.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Has patellar tendon injury
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Diaz's initial diagnosis Thursday is that of a right patellar tendon injury, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
There should be more information soon about the overall scope and severity of the injury, as Diaz was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday afternoon. He injured his right knee late Wednesday night while celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. It's an ugly situation for the Mets, and for fantasy managers who already selected Diaz high in drafts.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Team fears injury is significant
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Diaz will undergo an MRI on his right knee Thursday afternoon and initial indications are that the injury is "bad," one source told Andy Martino of SNY.tv.
Martino writes that those briefed on the situation "fear that Diaz could be lost for a significant period, perhaps the entire season." The report comes as no surprise, unfortunately, as the right knee injury Diaz sustained Wednesday following Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic certainly looked major. The Mets could reveal the results of Diaz's MRI as soon as Thursday evening.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Set for MRI on knee
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Diaz injured his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday in the World Baseball Classic and will undergo imaging on his knee Thursday.
After striking out the side to secure the victory for Puerto Rico, Diaz was swarmed by his teammates on the mound before collapsing. He needed to be taken off the field in a wheelchair and appeared to be in a great deal of pain. He could face an extended absence, but we'll know more once his test results come back Thursday.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Goes down while celebrating WBC win
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Diaz suffered a right leg injury Wednesday while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After striking out the side to secure the victory for Puerto Rico, Diaz was swarmed by his teammates on the mound before trainers were brought out to tend to him. There is no official word yet on the severity of Diaz's injury, but the fact he couldn't put any weight on his right leg and had to be taken off the field in a wheelchair is not a great sign. More updates on the All-Star closer's status should emerge shortly.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Agrees to five-year deal with Mets
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Diaz and the Mets agreed to a five-year, $102 million contract Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Diaz was slated to become a free agent during the offseason and would have undoubtedly drawn interest from plenty of teams, but he'll instead remain with the Mets on the largest contract for a reliever in history, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Diaz was one of the most dominant closers in baseball in 2022, converting 32 of 35 save chances while posting a 1.31 ERA and 0.84 WHIP while striking out 118 batters in 61 innings. His new agreement with the Mets includes an opt-out after the third season and a full no-trade clause as well as a $20 million team option for the 2028 season.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Nails down 32nd save
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Diaz struck out one in 1.1 perfect innings to record his 32nd save of the season in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
The dominant righty converted his 22nd consecutive save chance, with his last blown save coming back in late May. Diaz has been almost untouchable all season, posting a career-best 50.2 percent strikeout rate to support his 1.31 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 62 innings.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Snags four-out save
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Diaz got the save Tuesday versus the Brewers after he pitched 1.1 perfect innings while striking out three batters.
Diaz entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, tasked with protecting a 7-5 lead with a runner on first. The right-hander made quick work of Rowdy Tellez, striking him out to end the frame before he set the Brewers down in order in the ninth, registering two more punchouts in the final inning. Diaz is now up to 31 saves on the campaign and has converted his last 21 save opportunities. Since the All-Star break, the closer has produced a 0.87 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with 35 strikeouts over 20.2 innings in 19 appearances while going 11-for-11 in save chances.
