“Díaz Turned Down Five-Year Contract From Braves” U.S. Report Reveals

[마이데일리 = 심혜진 기자] The Atlanta Braves were also reportedly interested in Edwin Díaz (31), who recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their new closer.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported on the 19th (KST) that the Atlanta Braves offered Díaz a five-year contract earlier this week. The exact salary figures and contract details were not disclosed.

Díaz’s decision not to sign with Atlanta appears to have been influenced by the fact that the Braves’ offer was less appealing than the average annual value proposed by the Dodgers.

The Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract. While it fell short of the five-year, $100 million deal Díaz had been seeking, the agreement carries an average annual value (AAV) of $23 million, making it the highest AAV ever for a relief pitcher.

MLB Trade Rumors reported that the New York Mets, Díaz’s former team, were reluctant to offer a contract longer than three years. However, it appears that at least one club was willing to guarantee him through his age-36 season, noting that Atlanta had presented a five-year offer.

After failing to land Díaz, the Braves signed Robert Suárez to a three-year, $45 million deal two days later. They then spent another $20 million to bring back Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year contract.

MLBTR added that Atlanta’s offer for Díaz showed the club was not averse to forfeiting draft capital. Díaz, a three-time All-Star, had rejected the Mets’ qualifying offer. Had Atlanta signed a qualified free agent, it would have had to forfeit the 26th overall pick in next year’s draft, as well as $500,000 from its 2027 international amateur bonus pool.

The Braves have yet to bolster their starting rotation. The outlet pointed out that there is no guarantee the projected top five of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and Reynaldo López will all remain healthy. With the bullpen and shortstop issues addressed, adding a mid-rotation starter should now be the top priority.