Díaz agrees to $69M, 3-year deal with World Series champion Dodgers, AP source says, leaves Mets

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Closer Edwin Díaz has agreed to a $69 million, three-year contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Díaz's agreement includes deferred payments by the Dodgers, who already owed $1.051 billion in deferred pay to eight players from 2028-46.

“The Dodgers are the Goliath and they went and got something that they really, really needed,” said agent Scott Boras, who does not represent Díaz. “I’m sure that there was a goal on the part of the player that he felt that maybe he could achieve his goals differently with the Dodgers than he could with the Mets. ... Right now in our industry when a Goliath snaps his fingers, he seems to be getting what he wants.”

A three-time All-Star who turns 32 on March 22, Díaz joins a Dodgers bullpen that struggled last season, causing the team to shift rookie starter Roki Sasaki to closer in the postseason. Los Angeles relievers had a 4.27 ERA, 21st among the 30 teams.

Relying on a 97-98 mph fastball and slider, Díaz became a fan favorite at Citi Field, where horns blared and fans danced when he entered games to “Narco” by Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet.

'Since the deal is not official, I can’t comment on it. I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “We certainly have work to do, but there are many good players out there. I’m confident we’ll like where our team is once we get to opening day.”

New York prepared for Díaz's possible departure by agreeing to a $51 million, three-year contract with Devin Williams, who left the crosstown Yankees after one season.

“I’ve certainly seen Devin perform at a very high level for a long time,” Stearns said. “Have full confidence that he can be one of the best relievers in baseball. I think he’s very motivated to do that.”

Signing Williams may have impacted the Mets' approach to Díaz.

“Once you add to a certain part of your team, that will change the calculus and how you look at your team in general,” Stearns said.

Díaz joins a Dodgers bullpen that includes left-hander Tanner Scott, who was bothered by elbow inflammation in his first season after signing a $72 million, four-year contract. Jack Dreyer, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia also are in the bullpen.

Díaz had 28 saves in 31 chances last season with a 6-3 record and 1.63 ERA for a disappointing Mets team that failed to reach the playoffs despite spending the second-most behind the Dodgers. He struck out 98 in 66 1/3 innings.

He has 253 saves in 294 chances over nine seasons with the Seattle (2016-18) and the Mets, who acquired him along with second baseman Robinson Canó for five players that included Jarred Kelenic and Anthony Swarzak. Díaz missed the 2023 season after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee during a postgame celebration with Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic.

Díaz agreed to a $102 million, five-year contract with the Mets after the 2022 season, a deal that included deferred money payable through 2042. He had the right to opt out after three years and $64 million to become a free agent again. Of that $64 million, $15.5 million is deferred and payable through July 1, 2039.

New York has lost two significant players from the roster that helped it reach the 2024 NL Championship Series. The Mets traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas.

First baseman Pete Alonso, who has been meeting with teams at the winter meetings, is a free agent and it remains uncertain whether he will remain with New York.

AP freelance writer Kristie Ackert contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - New York Mets' Edwin Díaz (39) pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

FILE - New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts at the end of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's ambassador to the U.S. for the last six years said Tuesday she's resigning next year as the two major trading partners plan to review the free trade agreement.

Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said in a letter it is the right time to put in place someone who will oversee talks about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that is up review in 2026.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Hillman “prepared the foundations for Canada in the upcoming review" of the agreement.

Carney noted she’s one of the longest-serving ambassadors to the United States in Canada's history.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Hillman in 2017. She was the first woman appointed to the role.

Hillman helped lead the trade negotiations during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term and worked with U.S. and Chinese officials to win the release of two Canadians detained in China.

Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, and Hillman had been leading trade talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Trump ended trade talks with Carney in October after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the U.S., which upset the U.S. president. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over Trump's insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Asked this week when trade talks would resume, Trump said, “we'll see.”

Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. Most exports to the U.S. are exempted by the USMCA trade agreement but that deal is up for review.

Carney aims to double non-U.S. trade over the next decade.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well.

Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.

FILE - Ambassador of Canada to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman listens during a First Ministers' meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, Jan. 15, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File)