Jason Burgos
What New York Mets fans feared but expected to happen occurred on Monday. Following another All-Star season, closer Edwin Diaz used the opt-out clause in his contract and is going to test his value in MLB free agency this winter.
While the expectation is that New York will do all it can to re-sign Diaz, they already gave him a record contract for a closer two years ago. It’s no guarantee they will do so again this winter. If the nightmare scenario came to pass and he did leave in free agency, here are five replacement options on the open market.
Robert Suarez
San Diego Padres veteran Robert Suarez is also opting out of his contract and is viewed as the second-best 9th-inning reliever available this winter. He isn’t as good a closer as Diaz and is 34 years old. However, he is still a two-time All-Star who has been one of the best at his position in the game the last two years. Plus, he would come at a more reasonable rate.
Kenley Jansen
In his 16th season in the league, four-time All-Star Kenley Jansen showed he can still compete at a high level. Posting 29 saves and a 2.59 ERA for a bad Los Angeles Angels team in 2025. The 38-year-old would only be a short-term option, but he is a rock-solid replacement while the team figures out how to fill the position long-term.
Emilio Pagan
Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagan finished fifth in the league with 32 saves this season. The 34-year-old had a career year (2.88 ERA and 68.2 innings pitched) just in time for a jump into free agency. Which means he could fall right back to earth next season. However, in two of the last three years, he has had a sub-3.00 ERA. Offering evidence that he just might be finding himself late in his career. He would be a very cost-effective option for the Mets.
Raisel Iglesias
While he has never earned All-Star honors, Atlanta Braves veteran Raisel Iglesias has been a pretty reliable closer for much of his career. He has posted 29 or more saves the last three years, and has a 2.90 ERA for his career. He will get a lot of interest this offseason, but he would be a strong replacement option for Edwin Diaz, while also hurting a division rival.
Devin Williams
The 2025 season was a disastrous one for seven-year veteran Devin Williams. He was seen as a huge trade addition for the New York Yankees before the season, but ended up losing the closer job after a few months. However, it can’t be overlooked that he is a two-time All-Star who was one of the league’s elite closers until this year.
Some Mets fans will scoff at the idea of signing Williams, but he will be far cheaper than Diaz, has immense talent, and is still only 31 years old.
