Trumpets Are Now California Dreamin’

For the past seven seasons, Edwin Diaz has been a fixture at Citi Field. 

His entrance into games became a Citi Field event with everyone from Joe in Sales to Mr. Met doing their best jam session to “Trumpets.” 

Diaz’s entrance was cool, but over time his performance became even more noteworthy. 

After a very rocky start to his Mets tenure, a 2019 season that would have had most fans assuming that Diaz clearly didn’t have the right makeup and temperament to handle the New York market, Edwin Diaz flipped the script. 

Diaz put together two of the best seasons a reliever has ever had in Queens. 

The 2022 campaign and last season’s 2025 season were as lights out as a franchise could hope for from its closer. 

I fully expected this offseason to be one of change for the New York Mets. 

They went through a horrific 4 month stretch of baseball and missed the playoffs with a record high payroll. 

I totally understand the thought process of acknowledging the roster and status quo cannot be accepted. 

However, I have a hard time envisioning the back end of the bullpen looking better for the 2026 season. 

The Mets committed to former Yankees reliever Devin Williams on a three year deal just a week ago. 

Yes, Williams has had some big seasons as a big league reliever, but after watching him in the Bronx last year, would you say you feel better about him as your closer as opposed to Edwin Diaz? 

I don’t know how you could make that case. 

To make matters worse, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team you are gunning for in the National League. Ya know, the back to back World Series champions just added Edwin Diaz to the back of their bullpen. 

In other words, the rich get richer. 

The Mets will act this offseason. Steve Cohen will spend, the Mets will pivot to other moves, but losing Diaz is a monster blow in the back end of the bullpen. 

The offseason pivot for 2026 just became that much tougher… 

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