The New York Mets bullpen has been underperforming in recent weeks, and now the team’s nominal closer Edwin Díaz is on the injured list. The Mets placed Díaz on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder impingement, and lefty Josh Walker was called up in a corresponding move. The team has not yet announced how long Díaz will be out of action. In the past, pitchers with shoulder impingements have missed anywhere from 15 days to the entire season, with an average of 82 days for recovery.
Díaz, a 30-year-old righty, has generally been durable throughout his career but is currently dealing with his first arm injury. His only other stint on the injured list came last year when he tore his patella tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win in the World Baseball Classic. He missed the entire 2023 season and has struggled since his return this year, allowing 11 runs in his last 10 appearances and blowing four of five save chances.
In recent games, Díaz was not called upon for saves, suggesting that he may not have been trusted or was dealing with an impending injury. The Mets bullpen as a whole has struggled in recent weeks despite performing well earlier in the season. Waiver claim Reed Garrett was a notable asset early in the season but has had difficulty in his recent outings, giving up eight runs in his last six games.
This is the second year of Díaz’s five-year, $102 million contract signed after his exceptional performance in 2022. The Mets have been struggling lately, losing 22 of their last 32 games and holding a record of 22-32. With Díaz now on the injured list, the team faces additional challenges in addressing their bullpen issues.
In conclusion, injuries have been piling up for the Mets bullpen recently, with Díaz being their most recent addition to their injured list. With Walker being called up as a replacement for Díaz and Garrett struggling lately, it looks like it may take some time before their bullpen gets back on track.
