Top MLB Analyst Backs Mets? Reliever to Become ?First $100 Million Closer?; Believes Closers Are the Future of League Strategy

In the name of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, the New York Mets have two of the best pitchers by their side. However, Edwin Diaz has been their unsung hero from the mound this season. He has been probably the best closer in the entire MLB this season.

New York Mets are having an excellent season so far. No doubt about that. When the 2022 regular season started, almost no one expected them to dominate the National League. However, under the guidance of their visionary manager, Buck Showalter, the Mets have been nothing but phenomenal this season.

When talking about the Mets reliever Edwin Diaz, he is setting a new benchmark for relief pitchers in the league. At least that?s what renowned analyst Jeff Passan believes.

Edwin Diaz could become the 1st closer to signing a $100 million deal

If talking about numbers, Edwin Diaz is no less worth than a starting pitcher. With 26 saves and a 1.38 ERA, Diaz has struck 100 batters in just 52.1 innings he has pitched. He has been instrumental for the Mets in the last innings. And if the Mets are enjoying their success, huge credit goes to Diaz for not leaking runs in the death.

And considering his worth, ESPN?s Jeff Passan believes Diaz could be the first reliever to get a $100 million contract. While talking to Pat McAfee, Passan said the same.

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?I mean all 30 teams should have a closer. That comes into some sort of great entrances music. Edwin Diaz is an interesting case,? Passan said. ?This was the guy who got traded to the Mets for Jarred Kaleni? a couple of years ago; Looked like a complete disaster of a deal.?

?But this is his free agency and right now he has been the best reliever in baseball. And he made this off-season and become the first $100 million closer.?

Closers could be a big market in the coming time

No matter how good a starting pitcher ends his inning, if the closer or reliever fails to do their job, the start will not be enough to win the game. And considering this aspect, the closers are the ones who make the game interesting. Passan also weighed his opinion on how the closers have been pulling the audience back in the game.

?If you are a baseball team, the idea that you can market your closer is that you can market the ninth inning as something that everybody wants to watch. I want someone to come up with an app that says the closer is coming in right now,? Passan added.

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Do you think closers could be a big deal in MLB in the coming times?