ORLANDO, Fla. — The Dodgers are taking another swing at getting an established closer.
The Dodgers reportedly reached a three-year, $69 million deal with right-hander Edwin Diaz, who had 28 saves with a 1.63 ERA with the New York Mets last season.
Diaz, 31, has 253 saves with a 2.82 ERA in his career. He was considered the top closer on the free agent market this winter.
Because Diaz rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets, the Dodgers will lose their second- and fifth-highest selections in the draft and $1 million from their international bonus pool.
Last year, the Dodgers signed left-hander Tanner Scott, who was one of the top relievers on the market, and he responded by posting a 4.74 ERA in the first year of a four-year, $72 million deal.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes said earlier in the winter meetings that they didn’t necessarily need a closer, because they expected Scott to have a bounceback season.
That said, they didn’t rule it out.
“I think that getting a high-leverage reliever is never a bad thing,” Roberts said on Monday.
More to come on this story.