Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who fled for the greener pastures owned by the Los Angeles Dodgers this winter, will undergo surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and will miss at least three months.
The 32-year-old right-hander had struggled with his new team after signing a three-year, $69 million deal with the two-time defending champions back in December. Posting a 10.50 ERA, early concerns only worsened when Diaz’s velocity dipped on Sunday night in a loss to the Colorado Rockies.
“We all saw the stuff… and it sent up red flags,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said (h/t MLB.com). “After the game, he had a conversation with our training staff and felt that he had some elbow discomfort. Looking at what was going on [Sunday night], we just wanted to be proactive and felt that it was smart to get an MRI, get imaging, which we did do. It showed loose bodies. It happens with players, and it just kind of came to a head last night. We felt, get the surgery scheduled and expect a second-half return.”
This is the second significant injury suffered by Diaz in the last three years. After a historic 2022 campaign in which he struck out more than half of the batters he faced, he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a victory with Team Puerto Rico at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
He returned to form last season in New York, winning the Trevor Hoffman Award, which is awarded annually to the best reliever in the National League. He posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings of work.
The Mets offered Diaz a three-year, $66 million contract this offseason, but he took $3 million more to join the Dodgers. He did not give his former team a chance to counter.
For more on Edwin Diaz and the Mets, visit AMNY.com
