MLB Analyst deems Edwin Diaz irreplaceable, predicts difficult season for Mets after star closer's season-ending injury

The New York Mets' 2023 season got off to the worst possible start, and we're not even a game down!

Integral pitcher Edwin Diaz suffered a freak injury while celebrating his team's (Peurto Rico) historic 5-2 victory against the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. While the severity of the situation was unknown at the time, a rough timeline for a patellar tendon injury is typically eight months, so Díaz is expected to miss the entirety of the Mets' 2023 season.

"The update on Edwin Díaz is not good. He is likely to miss the entire season due to a patellar tendon injury." - Anthony DiComo, Twitter

That being said, questions about the Mets' pitching roster have come into question.

Former MLB pitcher Brad Lidge assessed the current situation at the Mets, strongly suggesting that while the likes of David Robertson and Adam Ottavino are holding down the fort, the Mets face an almost impossible task of replacing Edwin Diaz.

"You're not going to be able to go out and get Edwin Diaz kind of a guy. He doesn't exist, he just got hurt. He's the only one on the planet that threw the ball the way he did last year," Lidge told MLB Network Radio.

"What's next for the Mets after the Edwin Díaz injury? #Mets | @Mets" - MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Twitter

While replacing Diaz seems unlikely, Lidge stressed that it is imperative that the Mets find a good closer and put together an elite bullpen this offseason to compete with the likes of the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in their division.

"With how much experience that rotation has, then you are going to have to do your best to give them blows and spells in the time off when you can in the second half and you're going to have to have an effective bullpen to navigate that. They're going to go out and get someone at the deadline I believe" Lidge concluded.

Edwin Diaz just signed a blockbuster deal with the Mets in 2022

Twenty-twenty-two was undoubtedly Edwin Diaz's best year in the league by far. After an impressive showing throughout the year and past performances, the New York Mets re-signed Diaz to a 5-year contract worth $102 million on November 9, 2022. The most valuable contract ever signed by a relief pitcher!

"5 years, $102,000,000 for Edwin Díaz! It's the largest contract for a relief pitcher in history!" - Codify, Twitter

Diaz's 2022 got better in December when he was named the 2022 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. He concluded the year by making the All-MLB First Team.