Free Agency Opens; Mets Lose Edwin Díaz

Free agency officially opened after the World Series with 137 players hitting the market and a five-day quiet period for exclusive negotiations. The New York Mets lost elite closer Edwin Díaz when he opted out of his contract with two years and $31 million remaining; Díaz posted a 1.63 ERA, 28 saves and 3.0 WAR in 2024 and is two years removed from a torn patellar tendon. New York is widely expected to be active, with Kyle Schwarber (projected multi‑year, near‑$100M) linked as a DH upgrade and lefty Ranger Suárez floated as a rotation target. The Milwaukee Brewers face a quieter offseason — only two of their players (Jordan Montgomery and Shelby Miller) are among the 137 free agents — while several mutual‑option decisions (Brandon Woodruff, Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Danny Jansen) remain unresolved. Other notable storylines include the Kansas City Royals being floated as a surprise suitor for Bo Bichette and the Arizona Diamondbacks holding a short exclusive window to re‑sign players such as James McCann, Zac Gallen and Jalen Beeks.