What will it take for the Mets to re-sign Edwin Diaz?

This offseason is critical for the New York Mets, and there will be no shortage of questions.

Jacob deGrom has indicated that he will opt out of his contract and test free agency. Star closer Edwin Diaz, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, starters Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker, and relievers Adam Ottavino, Michael Givens and Seth Lugo are all scheduled to become free agents. They also must decide on Carlos Carrasco’s $14 million team option ($3 million buyout) for the 2023 season.

But re-signing Diaz should be their top priority.

Diaz, 28, may become the first $100 million closer in baseball history. He posted a 1.31 ERA and 118/18 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 62 innings and established himself as the most dominant closer in baseball. He’s the best closer in Mets history, has shown that he’s only getting better in his seventh season, and consistently overmatched hitters in high-leverage situations.

Just look at his Baseball Savant chart. In 2022, Diaz ranked in the 100th percentile in strikeout rate, xSLG, xBA, xERA and whiff rate. He ranked in the 99th percentile in fastball velocity, in the 97th percentile in chase rate, in the 96th percentile in average exit velocity and in the 93rd percentile in barrel percentage.

Edwin Diaz’s next Mets contract could make history

Simply put, there are no other closers (perhaps other than Josh Hader) like Diaz. And the Mets cannot let him get away.

Re-signing deGrom and Nimmo should also be among the Mets’ top priorities. But the contract that deGrom signed in 2019 — five years, $137.5 million — was viewed as team-friendly. And by saying before the season that he planned to opt out, deGrom indicated that he will be seeking a deal worth close to market value, and that should exceed the three-year, $130 million contract that Max Scherzer signed with the Mets last winter.

Which signals that deGrom will want to establish his value on the open market, meaning that there will not be a quick resolution on where he will play in 2023 and beyond.

The same can be said for Nimmo. His agent, Scott Boras, prefers his players to establish their value in free agency and often waits out the market searching for the best deal. And he should have no shortage of suitors in free agency, considering that he’s the best free-agent center fielder on the market.

The Mets should prioritize re-signing all three players. But Diaz represents the best chance at retaining a player before he reaches free agency and general manager Billy Epller should begin talks with Diaz’s representatives about a record-setting deal as soon as possible — if they haven’t already.