Edwin Díaz responds to Steve Cohen’s comments about leaving Mets

PHOENIX — Mets owner Steve Cohen said this week he found it “perplexing” that star closer Edwin Díaz left New York for the Dodgers this winter.

But on Saturday, in his first media session of spring training, Díaz made the decision sound simple when asked about Cohen’s comments.

“I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone, and I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me,” said the 31-year-old right-hander, who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers that includes the highest annual salary for a reliever in MLB history. 

“At the end of the day, I chose to be here. I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership. They treated me really good. I don’t have anything bad to say about them. But at the end of the day, I’m here.”

And, based on his early comments this spring, happy to be so.

After the Dodgers’ second workout of camp Saturday, the three-time All-Star praised his new surroundings, speaking highly of not only the Dodgers’ talented roster but also a clubhouse culture that has immediately embraced him.

“Everyone welcomed me really good,” said Díaz, who cited “clubhouse chemistry” when asked what has stood out to him so far during his time at Camelback Ranch.

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“I think that’s how they’ve been so good. They have a really good clubhouse,” he said, later adding: “Every player has a different personality in the clubhouse. They have different players from different countries, and they all get together and have fun.”

Cohen, the deep-pocketed Mets owner, made news this week when he told Howie Rose he was surprised to see Díaz leave this winter.

Though the Mets reportedly offered Díaz, a longtime fan favorite in Queens, $3 million less in guaranteed money than the Dodgers did, they were also believed to have wiggle room to go higher.

“I’m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision (to leave the Mets),” Cohen said. “Obviously, it’s a personal decision on his part. and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid.”

When Díaz signed with the Dodgers, he said the opportunity to compete for a World Series — something he has never won before — was one of his main draws in coming to Los Angeles.

And on Saturday, he reiterated that goal multiple times, looking perfectly at peace with his free-agent decision.

“This is a new journey for me, and I’m happy to be with the Dodgers,” he said, “so let’s see how it goes.”

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Though Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol said at last month’s Fanfest event he was hopeful of being ready for Opening Day this season, after missing all of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the right-hander will be slow-played in his ramp-up this spring –– leaving his chances of starting the season on-time in doubt.

“Coming back from the shoulder, it’s gonna take some time,” Roberts said. “We’re gonna slow-play him. Yesterday, he threw off the mound and still the velocity is not near where it’s gonna be. So I think it’s a slow progression. I just don’t know where that puts us. It’s a slow process for Brusdar.”