Edwin Díaz to return to Dodgers on Friday, but not as closer
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers made Edwin Díaz the highest-paid reliever in MLB history last offseason. Their return so far has been an 11.85 ERA and two injured list stints.
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Díaz's season is set to resume Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Thursday morning before the team clinched its 13th National League West title in 14 years. When asked what role Díaz will occupy upon returning, Roberts had two words ready.
"Low leverage."
Instead of serving as closer, Díaz will be trying to earn any sort of bullpen role as his team figures out its playoff roster. Roberts made clear that the Dodgers won't just be plugging him into the late innings this time around:
"I think like anything, it should be a meritocracy. You have to earn the right of opportunities, but then you also got to perform, right? Eddie understands that. I think where we're at now, we just need guys to buy in, perform and go from there. That's what he's about."
Díaz has appeared in only 16 games this season. He pitched for three weeks in March and April before hitting the IL with loose bodies in his throwing elbow, then returned in July with even more disastrous results. The Dodgers tried to stick with him as closer, but a stretch of 11 earned runs allowed in nine appearances ended with another trip to the IL on Aug. 18, this time with neck inflammation cited as the reason.
Díaz has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City since early September, but the results have been hardly encouraging. He walked seven batters and allowed six runs across five appearances.
His most recent appearance was a scoreless inning, though, with his lone baserunner coming on a two-out double from Miguel Andujar in a 12-0 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas.
That performance was apparently good enough for the Dodgers to decide he was ready for a return to the big leagues, with Roberts saying it was "really good" and "his best one yet."
As far as what the Dodgers are looking for when Díaz returns, Roberts said "Quality strike-throwing and get guys out."
With Díaz scuffling all season, Tanner Scott — who himself had a rough first season in 2025 after signing a big contract with the Dodgers — has primarily stepped in as closer and performed well enough, with a 2.87 ERA and 22 saves in 65 appearances. Amazingly, the Dodgers' current relief struggles are nothing compared to what the team went through last season before winning its second straight World Series.