The New York Mets are currently facing ongoing bullpen issues, with their nominal closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list. On Wednesday, the team announced that Díaz had been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder impingement, with lefty Josh Walker being called up as a corresponding move. The Mets have not disclosed how long Díaz will be sidelined, but history shows that pitchers with shoulder impingements can miss anywhere from 15 days to an entire season, with seven pitchers in 2023 missing an average of 82 days due to this injury.
Díaz, a 30-year-old righty, has been quite durable throughout his career up until now. This is his first arm injury, with his only other injured list stint occurring last year when he tore his patella tendon. Previously missing the entire 2023 season due to this injury, Díaz has struggled in his return this year, notably allowing 11 runs in his last 10 appearances while blowing four of five save chances and opponents hit .326/.383/.651 against him. In the first game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers, Adam Ottavino was called in for the save, possibly indicating that Díaz was either injured or lacking trust.
The Mets bullpen has been struggling lately and their woes have been compounded by Díaz’s absence. Although he was not alone in struggling relief efforts this season, Díaz is considered one of the most talented arms on the team and hopes of getting him back on track would be crucial for addressing their ongoing bullpen problems. With Díaz now on the injured list and waiver claim Reed Garrett faltering in his recent outings, the team faces additional challenges in managing their bullpen effectively.
Díaz is currently in Year 2 of his record five-year $102 million contract signed after a standout performance in 2022 where he recorded 118 strikeouts with a 1.13 ERA in just 62 innings. With the Mets losing
