Edwin Diaz to the Yankees would give Blue Jays very few options to counter-punch

In a recent article by Jim Bowden of The Athletic, he took a look at the Winter Meetings wish list for various contenders (subscription required) for the upcoming 2026 MLB season. In doing so, Bowden made some bold predictions with regards to free agent signings where one in particular could have huge implications for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The former MLB GM has elite closer Edwin Diaz staying in New York, but not with the Mets but joining the Yankees on a five-year, $88 million deal that could potentially be worth $100 million when all is said and done. If that indeed comes to fruition, that would be detrimental news to the Blue Jays in their search for significant bullpen help in the free agent market this offseason.

Edwin Diaz to the Yankees would give Blue Jays very few options to counter-punch

Already removed from the market in previous weeks were top-tiered options in Raisel Iglesias, who signed a one-year deal to stay with the Atlanta Braves; Ryan Helsley, who joined the Blue Jays’ rivals, the Baltimore Orioles on a two-year contract; and Devin Williams, who also happened to stay in New York, going from the Yankees to the Mets on a three-year deal.

So it just makes too much sense for the Yankees to steal back one of the Mets’ best relievers in 2025 in Diaz. In doing so, it would also create a nightmare scenario for Toronto as he would join David Bednar and Camilo Doval to form a three-headed monster for the Yankees’ back end of the bullpen to finish off ballgames. So the Bronx Bombers could practically have games won by the sixth inning once that trio takes over going forward.

On top of that, if Diaz is also gone from the free agent market, it leaves the Blue Jays with very few options to counter-punch and match those of their rivals. That is because it would leave Robert Suárez as the sole elite relief option remaining in free agency, which should escalate a potential bidding war for his services. Even worse, rumors have it that the Los Angeles Dodgers are seriously interested in Suárez, and we all know what that means in terms of the Blue Jays’ chances of landing him.

After Suárez, all that would be left in the market are Pete Fairbanks, Kyle Finnegan and company, which would represent a tier below the aforementioned names listed above. If the Blue Jays were planning to significantly improve their relief corps, that might just not be enough. Players such as Williams, Iglesias, Helsley and Suárez have dominated hitters for years, making them some of the most feared closers in the game. Not to say Fairbanks and Finnegan aren’t solid options either, but they don’t give that intimidation factor and dreaded ability to blow hitters away that the others frequently exude. 

As a result, to maintain a level playing field with the teams that already landed elite relievers this offseason, the Blue Jays should do all they can to at least make a legitimate run at Diaz to not only make themselves better, but to prevent others from surpassing them.