Edwin Diaz

Diaz's season was an unmitigated disaster. While his strikeout rate remained strong, his ERA ballooned to 5.59, his home run rate rose to comical levels, and his control waned. By the end of the season, he had ceded save opportunities to Seth Lugo and was relegated to mopup duty. Diaz's slider went from being unhittable in 2018 (.129 BAA) to getting crushed in 2019 (.297 BAA). He'll enter 2020 as the closer for the Mets, and reliever volatility is well-known, so don't be surprised to see Diaz rebound big-time in 2020. But just don't go into your season banking on it.

Edwin Diaz: Closing duties up in the air?

Edwin Diaz has yet to be formally named the Mets' closer heading into the start of the regular season. Manager Luis Rojas declined to commit to Diaz as the team's closer, admitting "I don't know yet. We'll get there at some point."

Fantasy Impact

Rojas mentioned Diaz, Dellin Betances, Seth Lugo, and Jeurys Familia as potential options for the ninth inning, and also hinted at a 'closer by committee' approach. Diaz should remain the favorite given his track record and what the team gave up to acquire him. Though his 2019 stats (5.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, seven blown saves) put him firmly in the hot seat.