Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their signing of Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract on Friday, and held an introductory press conference for the team’s new closer.
Díaz was joined on the dais by Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes. They each spoke highly of Díaz and presented him with a No. 3 Dodgers jersey.
“I’m really nervous,” Díaz said as part of his opening remarks. The 31-year-old then went on to thank the New York Mets, Friedman, Gomes and Dodgers ownership.
He revealed conversations with his brother, Alexis Díaz, and Kiké Hernández yielded positive feedback of the Dodgers organization.
“He told me they are a really good organization and they treat every player like they are all really good players. He told me great things about the Dodgers,” Edwin Díaz relayed of the talks with his brother, who was traded to the Dodgers during the 2025 season but later claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.
Díaz arrives after spending the past seven seasons with the Mets. This year he went 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves while appearing in 62 games. Díaz earned a third career All-Star Game selection, was voted the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year for a second time, and also garnered Second Team All-MLB honors.
Overall in his career, Díaz has 253 saves and a 2.82 ERA. He trails only Kenley Jansen (476) and Aroldis Chapman (367) for most saves among active relief pitchers. Díaz additionally is one of two just Puerto Rican born pitchers with more than 250 career saves, trailing only Roberto Hernández (326).
Why Edwin Díaz chose number three jersey with Dodgers
Díaz has worn No. 39 throughout the entirety of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Mets. However, in joining the Dodgers he not only is part of a new team but it required a number change.
The Dodgers retired No. 39 for Hall of Famer Roy Campanella on June 4, 1972. The pregame ceremony at Dodger Stadium also saw Sandy Koufax’s No. 32 and Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 retired as well.
Despite changing his number, Díaz still managed to keep one numeral from 39, and also tie in his family.
“Choosing No. 3 was easy,” Díaz said. “I talked to my wife, and we’ve got three kids, so that’s the reason why I picked No. 3, because of my three sons. I was hoping to get the number 39, but after I checked, the number was retired. They sent me the list of numbers, and I think that was the most obvious for me since I’ve got three sons.”
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