Edwin Díaz is back. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the closer will rejoin the bullpen on Wednesday, July 29 — three months after elbow surgery ended what had already been a brutal start to his time in Los Angeles.
From All-Star to the operating table in two weeks
The timing of Díaz’s signing made sense on paper. Coming off a dominant 2025 season with the New York Mets — 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 38% strikeout rate (second among all qualified relievers) — he landed the richest closer contract in MLB history: $69 million over three years.
Then the Dodgers actually got him on the mound. In his first two appearances, Díaz allowed three earned runs in each outing — against Texas and Colorado — finishing those six innings with a 10.50 ERA and 2.33 WHIP. On April 22, imaging revealed loose bodies in his right elbow, and surgery followed.
His road back included a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Roberts noted that Díaz showed some velocity dips in his last two rehab outings, which led to overthrowing and some loss of command. Not the most reassuring detail — but Roberts believes it’s a mechanical issue, not a health one.
Why this return matters beyond just a name on the roster
The Dodgers aren’t a team in trouble — they own the best record in baseball — but the bullpen has been the one soft spot all season. A 3.77 ERA ranks seventh in MLB, and Tanner Scott has held things together as interim closer without quite being a high-leverage October profile.
Díaz offers something no available trade target can match: 257 career saves, a proven October track record, and an elite fastball that misses bats at the highest level. At 32 and coming off surgery, the question isn’t whether he’s capable of being that guy again — it’s how long he needs to get there.
The calendar isn’t being patient. If Díaz debuts Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, he’ll have just four days of MLB action before the August 3 trade deadline closes. The Dodgers are betting that window is enough to see what they have — and decide whether they need bullpen reinforcements or whether the answer was already on the roster.
Three All-Star selections (2018, 2022, 2025) and three Reliever of the Year awards say the bet isn’t crazy. Now he just has to throw the baseball.
