Edwin Diaz eases Mets' concerns about WBC usage

It was reported Thursday morning that the Mets had "concern" that the two-time All-Star would be asked to pitch on consecutive days during the upcoming tournament. Diaz will compete for Puerto Rico in the showcase, which begins on March 7.

The 28-year-old was arguably the best closer in baseball in 2022, going 3-1 with 32 saves and a career-best 1.31 ERA, as well as a 0.83 WHIP and elite 118 to 18 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 61 appearances covering 62 innings. Diaz was named the NL Reliever of the Month for June, July and August and finished inside the top 10 in the senior circuit's Cy Young voting (ninth), which is rare for relief pitchers.

He won the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award at the end of the season and was given a new, five-year, $102 million contract in November, which made him the highest-paid relief pitcher in MLB history.

Puerto Rico finished second in the last two World Baseball Classics, falling to the Dominican Republic in 2013 and the United States in 2017. Diaz was Puerto Rico's closer in 2017, picking up two saves and one win in the tournament.