Mets deal with Edwin Diaz has deferred payments until 2042

NEW YORK — Edwin Díaz’s five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets includes $26.5 million in deferred payments, which he will not receive in full until 2042, and also has a club option for 2028, which extends the deal in Worth $118.25 million could surpass six seasons.

Díaz’s deal, announced Wednesday, set a record for guaranteed dollars for a relief pitcher. It includes a $12 million signing bonus payable in January and $17.25 million in salaries in 2023 and 2024 and $17.5 million in 2025.

Díaz has an $18.5 million player option for both 2026 and 2027, and he has to choose both after the 2025 season. If exercised, the Mets have a $17.25 million option for 2028 with a $1 million buyout.

New York will defer $5.5 million annually from 2023 to 2025 and $5 million annually in 2026 and 2027, with payments due July 1 in forthcoming years.

The breakdown:

• Funds deferred for 2023: $2.65 million each in 2033 and 2034 and $200,000 in 2035.

• Funds deferred for 2024: $2.45 million in 2035, $2.65 million in 2036, and $400,000 in 2037.

• Funds deferred for 2025: $2.25 million in 2037, $2.65 million in 2038, and $600,000 in 2039.

• Funds deferred for 2026: $2.05 million in 2039, $2.65 million in 2040, and $300,000 in 2041.

• Funds deferred for 2027: $2.35 million in 2041 and $2.65 million in 2042.

If the Mets exercise the 2028 option, none of that salary would be deferred.

Díaz will receive a full no-trade stipulation during the 2025 season and a limited no-trade stipulation beginning November 1, 2025, allowing him to block trades for 10 teams.

He would earn $100,000 for World Series MVP and Rivera/Hoffman Reliever of the Year, $50,000 for All-Star selection, Gold Glove, League Championship Series MVP or Cy Young, plus $25,000 for the second place in the Cy Young voting and $10,000 for third place.

Díaz’s deal broke the previous high for a reliever set when Aroldis Chapman returned to the New York Yankees after the 2016 season on a five-year, $86 million deal. Chapman quit the last two years and secured a three-year, $48 million deal that took his earnings to $104 million over six seasons.

Díaz went 3-1 this year with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves from 35 chances, making him his second All-Star Team. He had 118 strikeouts in 62 innings across 61 appearances as New York won 101 games – the second most in club history – and earned the best National League wildcard for their first playoff berth in six years.