Why did Díaz choose the Dodgers? "They have everything needed to win."

When the horn first sounded at Dodger Stadium, Edwin Díaz hoped his new fans would share his passion.

Shortly after his three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers officially took effect, Díaz began imagining stepping onto the mound on Opening Day in Los Angeles, accompanied by his longtime entrance music—Timmy Trumpet's "Narco"—blaring through the speakers at his introductory press conference.

“I can’t wait for the first game of the season, to enter in the ninth inning with Timmy Trumpet’s music playing and secure the win for the Dodgers,” Díaz told reporters in Los Angeles.

With Díaz, one of the top closers available on the free agent market, joining, the reigning champions have become even stronger. This marks the Dodgers’ second consecutive offseason signing of a high-end bullpen arm, following last winter’s four-year, $72 million deal with closer Tanner Scott.

Although Díaz opted out of the remaining two years on his contract with the New York Mets and declined their qualifying offer, many were surprised by his agreement with the Dodgers. Ultimately, Díaz was convinced that moving to Los Angeles offered his best chance to win, even if it meant leaving the team where he had established himself as one of baseball’s premier closers.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Díaz said. “I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization with everything required to succeed. Winning here will be pretty straightforward.”

Among many new experiences, Díaz’s entrance music will be one of the few familiar comforts. This will be his first time based on the West Coast since joining the Seattle Mariners in 2018. He has new teammates, coaches, and fans to get to know. Moreover, he’s not only wearing a new jersey but also a new number on his back.

Throughout his major league career, Díaz has worn number 39. That number is retired by the Dodgers in honor of Roy Campanella and was one of the team’s first three retired numbers, alongside Jackie Robinson’s 42 and Sandy Koufax’s 32. Therefore, Díaz chose to wear number 3 with the Dodgers as a tribute to his three sons.

From one family connection to another, Díaz had heard positive things about the Dodgers from his brother Alexis. Alexis was traded to Los Angeles from the Cincinnati Reds in May but was designated for assignment after nine appearances. During his time with the Dodgers, Alexis praised the player development staff for working with him to adjust his pitching mechanics.

“He told me the Dodgers are a great team,” Edwin Díaz said. “That made my decision easier.”

It was also an easy choice for the Dodgers.

Entering the 2026 season, Díaz has pitched 519.1 innings in his career with an ERA of 2.82 and 839 strikeouts. He has recorded 253 saves, with only three active pitchers ahead of him: Kenley Jansen (476), Craig Kimbrel (440), and Aroldis Chapman (367).

Since Jansen’s departure, the Dodgers have relied more on a “committee” approach for closing rather than a dedicated ninth-inning pitcher. Although management cited Díaz’s willingness to pitch in any situation as one reason for his fit, his impressive track record as a closer was a key factor in Los Angeles signing him.

“Watching him over the years, seeing his selflessness in the playoffs and just this past weekend when the game was on the line,” Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman told reporters, “that aligns perfectly with our culture and the unselfishness of many of our superstar players. In our eyes, many boxes were checked, but again, the bar for saying ‘this guy is our closer’ is very high, and ‘Sugar’ meets all of those criteria.”

The Dodgers hope Díaz will lock down the ninth inning, but they also expect the entire bullpen to perform better in 2026. Scott’s struggles in his first year in Los Angeles have been well documented, but he was not alone; the bullpen collectively posted a 4.27 ERA.

Díaz’s addition should have a major impact, but the Dodgers are also counting on the whole staff to bounce back.

“Having the chance to add a player of this caliber to an already very talented bullpen was something we weren’t sure we could actually achieve,” General Manager Brandon Gomes told reporters, “but we’re really excited that it happened.”