Edwin Díaz, the guy who inked baseball’s most expensive closer contract, is finally set to rejoin the Los Angeles Dodgers this Wednesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the team’s plan to activate Díaz, according to AM 570’s Dave Vassegh, and honestly, the stakes could not be higher for a pitcher making that kind of cash. After signing a whopping three-year, $69 million deal last winter to become MLB’s highest-paid reliever coming off a standout Mets career, his early performance with the Dodgers was, well, rough.
The Rocky Road Back to the Mound
Let’s be real, his first taste of Dodger Blue didn’t exactly go to plan. In his initial six innings, Díaz coughed up an eye-watering seven earned runs. Seven! For a closer earning that kind of money, that’s just brutal. His control, which wasn’t even considered above average when he was at his best, seemed to completely abandon him. After just seven appearances, the Dodgers had no choice but to shelve him in April. The culprit? Loose bodies in his elbow. It’s been a long haul for the 32-year-old, who’s been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He’s got one more appearance scheduled for Sunday, then it’s back to the big leagues.
The Bullpen’s Shifting Sands and What’s Next
While Díaz has been sidelined, the Dodgers’ bullpen has actually been holding its own, ranking seventh in MLB with a respectable 3.77 ERA. Who stepped up? A resurgent Tanner Scott, of all people. Talk about ironic, right? The Dodgers only brought in Díaz after Scott struggled in his own first season on a similarly large deal, and now Scott is the guy carrying the load. It’s a wild turn of events. Look, the team is also bringing back veteran utility man Kiké Hernández on Tuesday, which is a nice boost. But beyond Díaz, the Dodgers are absolutely crossing their fingers for more injured stars to return soon. We’re talking starting pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, reliever Blake Treinen, and catcher Will Smith all waiting in the wings. This team needs its big guns back.
So, all eyes will be on Díaz this Sunday for his final rehab outing, and then *definitely* on Wednesday when he steps back onto that big league mound. Can he rediscover the form that earned him that monster contract, or will the control issues continue to plague him? The Dodgers are banking on the former, and honestly, their season might just depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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