The reply appears to be each.
With $15 million in deferred cash, the signing of Williams doesn’t preclude the Mets from re-signing Diaz. The membership can nonetheless allocate assets to Diaz, who might be 32 subsequent season. Nonetheless, there are not any ensures the Mets will be capable to retain the companies of their right-handed nearer.
What the 31-year-old Williams does is give the Mets insurance coverage in case Diaz goes elsewhere.
Williams is coming off the worst season of his profession with the Yankees, however ERA doesn’t inform the entire story. His underlying metrics are on-par together with his profession numbers, and all through his profession he’s been a top-tier reliever, beginning as an efficient setup man for the Milwaukee Brewers earlier than transferring into the nearer function after Josh Hader was traded on the deadline in 2022.
Williams, like Diaz, depends on two pitches with devastating motion, a four-seam fastball and a changeup. It’s the latter of the 2 pitches he’s change into recognized for, together with his “airbender” changeup possessing a gyro-like spin, making it robust to barrel up and straightforward to swing via.
Pete Alonso was the one participant to hit one among his changeups out of the park in 2024, doing so within the NL Wild Card sequence. Williams went the whole lot of the 2024 common season with out permitting a house run off of his changeup, and his means to suppress homers and laborious contact are a part of what made him so enticing in free company, regardless of a 4.79 ERA with the Yankees final season.
Nonetheless, there’s no denying that Williams struggled after being traded to New York final 12 months. He was eliminated because the nearer twice after struggling some uncharacteristic blowups within the Bronx. There have been apparent questions on his means to deal with pitching in baseball’s largest market, particularly coming from the smallest market within the league. He didn’t deny that the transition was difficult, and he additionally didn’t appear deterred by the variations.
“I’ve grown to love being here,” Williams mentioned after the Yankees had been eradicated by the Toronto Blue Jays within the ALDS. “I love taking the train to the field every day. I really enjoyed my experience.”
It will likely be a distinct expertise in Flushing, particularly since a three-year contract brings some certainty. Williams will be capable to settle into his life in New York. Given the Mets’ current push to encourage New Yorkers to take the prepare to Citi Subject, he ought to discover loads of public transportation choices.
However there may be little certainty on the subject of his function within the bullpen. The Mets shouldn’t cease at Williams. Diaz is the man who brings the Mets probably the most consolation within the ninth inning, together with his lethal fastball-slider mixture and his means to work out of seemingly each jam, whether or not they’re self-inflicted or inherited.
Not for nothing, he places followers within the seats and retains them there. Followers come to Citi Subject hoping to listen to the trumpets within the ninth inning. Diaz’s walk-out music, “Narcos” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet has change into an occasion price the price of admission by itself.
For years, the Yankees loved the Mariano Rivera impact at Yankee Stadium. Followers eagerly awaited the primary few notes of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” exploding when the beat dropped and the nearer appeared on the fence. In San Diego, the opening chimes of AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” signified the doorway of Trevor Hoffman. No offense to Williams, however he doesn’t command the identical consideration with “Gangstas” by Pop Smoke.
Nevertheless it’s not all about theatrical entrances and edge-of-your-seat anticipation, it’s about efficiency. The Mets have an opportunity to construct an exceptionally deep bullpen with Diaz and Williams. They have already got two strong late-inning left-handers with Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter, and choices for long-relievers. Williams could be a prime reliever within the league, however Diaz is in an echelon above. Why accept second-best, when you possibly can have the perfect?
