The weight of $102 million rests heavily on one player’s shoulders as the Mets cling to their wild-card dreams by the thinnest of margins. With a 71-61 record, placing them precariously in the third National League Wild Card spot, every pitch carries the burden of October hopes and organizational expectations. The franchise’s postseason aspirations hang in the balance, and their highest-paid reliever knows the spotlight burns brightest when the stakes reach their peak.

Edwin Díaz, the recipient of the richest contract in relief pitcher history at five years and $102 million, stands at the epicenter of the Mets’ championship chase. The All-Star closer has delivered elite numbers this season with a 6-2 record, 1.60 ERA, and 24 saves while striking out 76 batters in 50.2 innings. Yet the pressure transcends individual statistics when team success teeters on the edge of collapse.

The burden intensifies because Díaz carries the weight of being the bridge’s final destination. While the Mets have assembled talent around him through acquisitions like Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto, and Tyler Rogers, the ultimate responsibility falls on his capable but expensive shoulders. The Mets need their bridge to Edwin Diaz, their closer, to be solid the rest of the way, which echoes the sentiment that every late-inning appearance becomes a referendum on that massive investment. With an opt-out clause looming after this season and $48 million potentially left on the table, Díaz faces the dual pressure of performing for both current success and future security.

When the Mets needed their $102 million closer most, Edwin Díaz delivered under fire. Entering Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia with the score knotted at five in the eighth inning after Ryan Helsley’s meltdown, Díaz faced immediate adversity as speedy Bryson Stott swiped second base. The pressure intensified when Stott stole third, but Díaz remained composed, striking out four of five batters across 1.2 gutsy innings. “I just tried to stay calm in that situation,” Díaz explained after escaping the jam and retiring Trea Turner with runners in scoring position. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his closer’s clutch performance: “He was pretty nasty again today, going through their best hitters. Runner at third with two outs against Turner, he gets him, then he’s going back out against their best guy and makes it look easy.”

Mets Call Up Jonah Tong for Playoff Push

While Díaz shoulders the pressure of closing games, the New York Mets desperately search for help wherever they can find it. Looking for an injection of young talent, the New York Mets are calling up their top pitching prospect, Jonah Tong, from Triple-A Syracuse. The 22-year-old right-hander from Markham, Ontario, will make his big league debut this Friday when the Mets face the Miami Marlins.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza broke the news Tuesday, according to SNY. This promotion comes at a crucial time as New York fights to maintain their playoff position. Tong currently ranks as the fourth-best prospect in the Mets organization and sits at No. 44 overall in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

The young pitcher has been absolutely dominant since his August promotion to Triple-A. In just 11 2/3 innings, Tong has racked up 17 strikeouts while posting a perfect 0.00 ERA. His Double-A performance this season was equally impressive, going 8-5 with a sparkling 1.59 ERA across 20 starts. That stellar work earned him a spot on the National League roster for July’s All-Star Futures Game.

The Mets desperately need this kind of fresh arm as they’ve struggled recently. Despite holding a 2.5-game lead for the final NL wild-card spot, New York has stumbled badly in August with an 8-14 record. They’ve also fallen six games behind Philadelphia in the NL East division race.