CINCINNATI –– Edwin Díaz is set to be activated by the Dodgers on Friday, manager Dave Roberts announced.
It leaves the $69 million offseason signing with plenty to prove over the final week of the regular season.
After beginning the year as a marquee free-agent acquisition seen as one of the best closers in all the major leagues, Díaz’s first season in Los Angeles has been an injury-plagued, performance-hampered disaster.
He has made only 16 appearances. He has converted only seven of his 11 save opportunities. He has posted an unthinkable 11.85 ERA while dealing with a litany of physical ailments.
First, there were loose bodies in his elbow that required a surgical procedure in April. Then, after returning in late July, he went down again with neck inflammation just three weeks later. At other points, he complained of discomfort in his previously surgically repaired right knee. Put it all together, he has never looked right with his mechanics or delivery.
The Dodgers were hopeful Díaz’s latest IL stint would give him time to remedy those issues. They identified a drop in his arm slot as a potential root cause for his lack of consistency this year.
But then, in his first four rehab outings with Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier this month, he gave up six runs (including five in one appearance) and walked seven batters, prompting Roberts earlier this week to cast doubt on Díaz’s chances of making the postseason roster.
“He needs to pitch better,” Roberts said. “It hasn’t been good.”
On Wednesday, at least, Díaz seemed to get the message. He retired three of the four batters he faced in another rehab outing. And while he didn’t record a swing-and-miss, he also didn’t issue a walk.
“Really good,” Roberts said. “It was his best one yet.”
Thus, the Dodgers feel comfortable bringing the 32-year-old back to the big leagues now.
He will start in lower-leverage situations, according to Roberts said, and will need to show further progress to regain the club’s trust.
“I think like anything, it should be a meritocracy,” Roberts said. “You have to earn the right of opportunities, but then you also got to perform, right? Eddie understands that. I think where we’re at now, we just need guys to buy in, perform and go from there. That’s what he’s about.”
As for what he’ll need to show to revive his chances of pitching in October?
“Quality of strike-throwing. Get guys out,” Roberts said simply. “As you get into the postseason, every inning’s leverage. So that’s kind of it.”
