As the Edwin Díaz sweepstakes inch along, the Mets have reached out to other back-end relief arms to either pair with their dominant closer or replace him, sources said.
The Post can confirm the Mets have talked with representatives for Robert Suarez and can add that they have touched base with reps for Pete Fairbanks, two of the top bullpen options on the market. The Athletic reported that the Mets have been in contact with Devin Williams’ camp as well.
If the Mets whiff on Díaz, the best alternative might be Suarez, a 34-year-old who is coming off two All-Star seasons. Since emerging as the Padres closer in 2024, Suarez has saved 76 games, pitched to a 2.87 ERA and posted a 0.97 WHIP that is the 17th best in baseball among pitchers with at least 100 innings. Suarez, who has just four years of major league experience after first establishing himself in Nippon Professional Baseball, opted out of the final two years and $16 million remaining on his Padres pact and has a strong market.
Fairbanks has been among the best relievers in the game over the past six seasons with the Rays, with whom he usually closed and saved 75 games over the past three years. The 31-year-old held a 2.83 ERA in 61 games last season, when the hard-thrower halted a velocity dip, his four-seamer averaging 97.3 mph for a second straight season after buzzing at 98.9 mph in 2023. The ever-frugal Rays declined Fairbanks’ $11 million option for next season.
Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Williams, 31, is coming off a roller-coaster season in The Bronx, where he lost his closing job but recovered by the end of the season and became a trusted arm in October. Despite a 4.79 ERA in 2025, his advanced metrics — such as strikeout and whiff rate and expected batting average — did not hint at a true regression in his stuff, which remained among the best in baseball.
Among the other options on the free agent market are Kenley Jansen, Shawn Armstrong, Tyler Rogers, Emilio Pagán, Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan and Seranthony Domínguez. But the expectation is Díaz will be the top priority for the Mets among available relievers.
Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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The Post’s Jon Heyman has reported that Díaz, who opted out of the final two years of his contract, is seeking a five-year deal for around the $20 million average annual salary of his previous deal. It is unclear whether David Stearns will be willing to extend such a lengthy offer to a reliever who turns 32 in March.
With or without Díaz, the Mets will have a bullpen to restock.
No longer under contract are Díaz, Rogers, Ryan Helsley, Ryne Stanek, Gregory Soto, Drew Smith, José Castillo, Max Kranick and Danny Young. Reed Garrett is expected to miss all of next season and Dedniel Núñez will miss at least a large portion of it. Brooks Raley and a recovering A.J. Minter are the only locks as 2026 weapons, with other internal options including Huascar Brazobán, Richard Lovelady and Dylan Ross.
“I would imagine over the course of the offseason, we’re going to add to our bullpen,” Stearns said at the GM meetings earlier this month. “You never know exactly how the back end of your bullpen is going to take shape … we have plenty of vacancies there, and I think we’ll have the opportunity to improve that area.”