#closer

#closer

The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed their bullpen by adding All-Star closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million contract that includes more than $13 million in deferrals and a $9 million signing bonus. The $23 million average annual value (AAV) of the contract set a new record for relievers, surpassing the $20.4 million mark Díaz received in his last deal with the New York Mets.

The free-agent pickup has been one of the top offseason additions in baseball this year, with the 37-year-old southpaw sporting a miniscule 1.06 ERA and 0.69 WHIP while striking out 71 batters over 51 innings of work. As noted by MassLive's Chris Smith, Chapman has not allowed a hit to the last 38 batters he's faced, with his last hit allowed coming all the way back on July 23 against the Phillies.

"Díaz has been Cincinnati's closer for most of his three-year MLB career. He earned his first save chances late in his rookie year, a deserved nod after his 1.84 ERA with 83 punchouts across 63 2/3 innings."