The Los Angeles Dodgers added Edwin Diaz on a three-year, $69 million deal Tuesday, and honestly? For them, it’s just another Tuesday.
The move gives the Dodgers their missing piece – a proven closer who can lock down games in October. At $23 million per year, it’s elite money for the position.
But here’s the thing about the Dodgers’ payroll: Diaz doesn’t even crack their top four.
With this signing, they now have seven players making $20 million or more next season. Diaz slots in at fifth, according to Spotrac:
- Tyler Glasnow – $32.5 million
- Shohei Ohtani – $28.2 million
- Blake Snell – $27.9 million
- Mookie Betts – $25.2 million
- Edwin Diaz – $23 million
- Freddie Freeman – $22.9 million
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto – $20.3 million
These figures use average annual values and don’t account for deferred money – like the massive deferrals in Ohtani’s deal. But they paint the picture clearly enough.
The Dodgers spend to win. Period.
It’s working, too. Back-to-back World Series titles tend to validate that approach.
What makes this move even better for Los Angeles? They’re pulling Diaz away from the New York Mets, another team with deep pockets that’s now scrambling for bullpen help.
The beauty of the Dodgers’ position is that while they need Diaz to perform, the pressure isn’t quite the same as it would be elsewhere. When you’re surrounded by this much talent, there’s room for adjustment if things don’t go perfectly.
That’s what $200+ million payrolls can buy you – insurance along with excellence.
