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He describes Diaz’s tenure as transformative and unprecedented in Mets history. From a shaky start in 2019, Diaz responded to criticism and adversity with resilience, culminating in 2021 and 2022 as his prime. Most notably, in 2025, Diaz was the undisputed MVP—the heart and soul of the Mets.
Allowing Diaz to leave, Roberts asserts, is a catastrophic mistake. The Mets had a chance to keep him, and they simply let their best player walk away on what Roberts considers a handshake deal—an insultingly modest offer of three years and $66 million, which Roberts defines as a lowball. The fact that Diaz signed for $69 million over three years with the Dodgers—a team that has now become their direct rival—feels like a punch to the gut.