Dodgers target elite closers like Edwin Díaz and Devin Williams to solidify a shaky bullpen and chase a third straight World Series title.
With free agency officially underway, the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as early favorites to land All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, addressing what was arguably their most glaring weakness in 2025, the bullpen. Despite back-to-back titles, the Dodgers’ relief corps was inconsistent throughout the regular season and stretched thin in October.
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DEVELOPING: It appears the Dodgers will be in on Edwin Diaz.
They have cleared just under $100 million in payroll from last season and are expected to be in on most high-end free agents. #Mets
Los Angeles entered last season looking unbeatable on paper after adding Rōki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates to an already star-studded roster. Yet the results never matched the expectations. Sasaki endured a rocky start to his MLB debut before injuries sidelined him for much of the season. He returned in time for the postseason and emerged as a surprising stabilizer, but by then, the bullpen’s depth had already been exposed.
Scott’s first year in Dodger blue was especially rough, marred by control issues and a late-season injury. Yates, meanwhile, was ineffective and didn’t factor into the postseason roster. By the end of October, the Dodgers were relying almost exclusively on Sasaki in high-leverage moments, an impressive but risky strategy given his limited experience in relief.
That lack of bullpen reliability makes the pursuit of Díaz both logical and necessary. Since 2018, the 31-year-old right-hander has been among baseball’s most dominant closers, averaging nearly 15 strikeouts per nine innings and posting a sub-3.00 ERA across multiple seasons. His ability to handle pressure and shorten games could be exactly what the Dodgers need as they chase an unprecedented third straight World Series title. While Díaz is expected to command a hefty contract, Los Angeles has never shied away from investing in elite talent to sustain its championship window.
The Dodgers have also been linked to another intriguing arm, Devin Williams, who hit free agency after a rough 2025 season with the Yankees. Once one of the game’s premier setup men with Milwaukee, Williams struggled to a 4.79 ERA over 62 innings in New York. Still, his devastating changeup and prior dominance could make him a classic Dodgers reclamation project. For a franchise known for reviving pitchers’ careers, Williams represents a lower-risk, high-upside option.
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Dodgers and Devin Williams have mutual interest early in free agency, per @FabianArdaya.
Whether it’s Díaz anchoring the ninth or Williams rediscovering his form, the Dodgers’ offseason priorities are clear. Strengthening the bullpen isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for a team with championship ambitions and a rare chance at history.