Edwin Diaz has been one of quite a few disappointments for the Mets this season.
Diaz was acquired in December from Seattle alongside with Robinson Cano, who has also struggled during his brief time with the Mets. New York gave up a significant haul of prospects to bring the two players to Queens, but now Diaz may be on his way out of town already.
According to a report from ESPN's Buster Olney, the Mets are expected to trade Diaz before the trade deadline on Wednesday. Olney claims that the Red Sox are the team most interested in his services.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen has certainly been keeping busy in the run-up to the deadline. The Mets acquired Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays on Sunday, and then followed that up on Monday by trading Jason Vargas to the Phillies.
Trading Diaz would be a clear sign that the Mets are ready to throw in the towel for 2019 and start preparing for 2020. Mickey Callaway's team sits seven games back of the second NL wild-card spot. After a disappointing first half of the season, the Mets have come back into the race a bit via a 10-5 record in their last 15 games. Still, the playoffs are a longshot.
Diaz has not been the shut-down closer that Van Wagenen thought he was acquiring last winter. The Puerto Rican reliever is 1-6 with a 4.95 ERA, 27 saves and four blown saves. This comes after a breakthrough season in 2018 with the Mariners during which he had 57 saves and a 1.96 ERA.
The Mets gave up Jay Bruce, Jarred Kelenic, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista and Justin Dunn in the trade that brought Diaz and Cano to New York. It's safe to say the deal has not worked out for them thus far.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are desperately trying to make up ground in the AL East and in the AL wild-card race. Boston has utilized a few different closers this year after losing Craig Kimbrel in the offseason.
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