MLB

Edwin Diaz opts out of rest of $102 million contract as Mets face free agency question

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Edwin Díaz is a free agent once again.

The closer opted out of the two years and $28 million left on his contract with the Mets on Monday, The Post’s Mike Puma reported, sending him back to the open market as one of the top free agent relief arms.

Díaz had signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets after the 2022 campaign, which included an opt-out after this year.

The 31-year-old is coming off a strong season in which he posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves (in 31 chances) and 98 strikeouts across 66 ¹/₃ innings.

The Mets can make Díaz the qualifying offer — set for $22.02 million — which might hurt his market slightly since the team that signs him would have to give up a draft pick.

Díaz may be the most attractive reliever on the market, along with former Padres closer Robert Suarez, who also exercised his player opt-out Monday.

Edwin Diaz Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Pete Alonso opted out of the one year and $24 million he had left on his deal, as he said he would at the end of the season.

Alonso signed the previous deal in February after protracted negotiations with the Mets yielded a two-year, $54 million contract. He garnered his fifth All-Star selection this past season by producing a slash line of .272./.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs.

The first baseman also became the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs with 264 for his career.


Juan Soto was announced as a National League MVP finalist Monday, alongside heavy favorite and Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.

Soto, in his first season with the Mets after signing a 15-year, $765 million contract, hit .263 with a .921 OPS and career highs of 43 home runs and 38 steals. His 6.2 bWAR ranked third among NL position players, trailing just Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (7.0) and Ohtani (6.6).

The 27-year-old Soto was an American League MVP finalist last year as a Yankee, finishing third with then-teammate Aaron Judge winning it, and placed second in NL MVP voting in 2021 while with the Nationals.

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