Edwin Díaz Is ‘Huge’ For Dodgers Bullpen Success

The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off one of the offseason’s most surprising moves when they signed Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract that made him the highest-paid relief pitcher in MLB history with an average annual salary of $23 million.

The right-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the last decade and gives the Dodgers their first established closer since Kenley Jansen.

Díaz’s impact has already been evident as he recorded two saves in L.A.’s season-opening sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“It’s great. It is,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of having Díaz in the closer role.

“I think that the dependability, the constant of having somebody at the back end that you trust and who has a track record, it just kind of allows, and tonight was an example where we go short with the starter, and then you have a way to deploy the ‘pen in rightful spots for them to have success, all the while knowing you have a guy at the back end that is a shutdown guy, so you kind of manage with what you have in the ‘pen, but to have a guy at the back end is huge.”

The Dodgers bullpen has been a strength throughout their run as back-to-back World Series champions, but the addition of a dominant closer like Díaz should make the group even more formidable this season.

In addition to signing Díaz, the Dodgers are expecting Tanner Scott to have a bounce-back year. The left-hander has thrown 1.1 scoreless innings thus far without allowing a baserunner.

All in all, the Dodgers’ bullpen has not given up a run in 11.2 innings through the first three games of the season.

Edwin Díaz has ‘nice and easy’ mindset as Dodgers closer

At the time of signing with the Dodgers, Díaz credited his relaxed approach for having long-term success as a Major League closer.

“Pitching in the ninth is a big responsibility because the ball is in your hand for the last three outs of the game,” Díaz said during his introductory press conference with the Dodgers.

“I think they are the toughest three outs of a game. Personally, I take it nice and easy. As the last guy, I always go batter-by-batter, pitch-by-pitch. I don’t think much about completing the inning, because a lot of things can happen in one inning.

“So personally, I like to take it easy and make pitches. At the end of the day, if I get my job done, the team will be in a good position. If I don’t get my job done, we are in trouble. So every time I have the chance to pitch, I always think I will win. That’s how I take it.

“If I don’t have a good result that night, I flush it right away and the next day I come ready to go again. That’s how I think I’ve been able to perform. Whatever happens on the mound that day, even if it’s good, or if it’s bad, I just flush it right away and come the next day ready to go again.”