Edwin Diaz’s Dodgers decision came down to something the Mets couldn’t provide

Edwin Diaz explained his decision to leave the Mets for the Dodgers.

The closer headed west to a three-year, $69 million contract with the two-time defending World Series champions on the same terms and $3 million less with the Mets – who reportedly “had some wiggle room” on their initial offer.

But it wasn’t just about the money, the 31-year-old said at his first press conference in Los Angeles on Friday.

“It wasn’t easy. I spent seven years in New York; they treated me great,” Diaz said. “I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization. I want to win and I think they have everything to win, so choosing the Dodgers was pretty easy.”

The three-time All-Star closer acknowledged he had options in free agency, but said the Dodgers stood out because of their track record.

And unfortunately for Mets fans, he’s taking the trumpets across the country.

“It would be fun. I think the music will immediately resonate with the fans,” he said of his powerful ‘Narco’ entrance. “That’s a nice walk-up number, so I can’t wait, in the first game of the season, to get in the ninth with Timmy Trumpet and get the W for the Dodgers.”

He’s not alone.

Diaz joins a loaded roster with a bevy of weapons that should be in the World Series mix for the duration of his contract and beyond. And the Dodgers would like him to bring his game to their bullpen.

“I think over the years I’ve seen him compete, seen the unselfishness in the postseason or on the last weekend of this year … when the game is potentially on the line,” said Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. “And it fits very well with our culture and the selflessness of many of our superstar players. There are so many boxes checked in our minds, but again, the bar was very high to say, ‘This person is our neighbor,’ and ‘Sugar’ checks all those boxes.”

“The opportunity to add someone of this caliber to what is already a very talented bullpen was something we weren’t sure would actually materialize,” general manager Brandon Gomes added.

“But we’re really happy that it is.”