Seven years ago, the New York Mets made a blockbuster trade that shocked fans, thanks to then–general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. The deal sent elite flamethrower closer Edwin Díaz to New York, paired with Robinson Canó, in exchange for one of baseball’s top prospects, Jarred Kelenic, along with other assets, to the Seattle Mariners. At the time, Mets fans were frustrated, uncertain about giving up a player with as much potential as Kelenic.
Today, Díaz remains one of the league’s premier closers and is seeking a large contract, potentially with the Mets, who could look to make him a Met for life. But how did the rest of the trade shake out? Here’s a full breakdown of one of the biggest trades in recent Mets history.
Breaking Down the Edwin Díaz Trade
The Trade:
Mets Received:
-
RP Edwin Díaz
-
INF Robinson Canó
Mariners Received:
-
OF Jay Bruce
-
OF Jarred Kelenic (Mets No. 3 prospect)
-
SP Justin Dunn (Mets No. 4 prospect)
-
RP Gerson Bautista (Mets No. 28 prospect)
Mets Side of the Trade
Edwin Díaz
No doubt, Díaz is one of the best closers in Mets history, ranking third in franchise saves after six seasons. His first year in Queens was a struggle, but he quickly developed into one of the game’s top closers.
Robinson Canó
Canó was widely considered a failure in Queens. In 168 games, he batted .269 with 24 home runs and 72 RBI. In 2021, he was suspended for the entire season due to PED use before being DFA’d in 2022.
The Mets acquired Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó in a trade with the Mariners on this day 7 years ago pic.twitter.com/maKfi8Zwvx
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 3, 2025
Mariners Side of the Trade
Jay Bruce
Bruce had little impact following his trade from the Mariners. After hitting 26 home runs in 2019, he moved on to the Philadelphia Phillies and later finished his career with the New York Yankees, retiring after just 10 games.
Anthony Swarzak
Swarzak also failed to make a mark. He appeared in 15 games for the Mariners, posting a 5.27 ERA over 13 innings, before retiring after the 2021 season.
Jarred Kelenic
Kelenic was the centerpiece of the package, carrying immense promise. He debuted with the Mariners in 2021, hitting .181, and struggled again in 2022, batting .141. A trade to the Atlanta Braves in 2023 produced a career-best season (.253 average, 11 HR, 49 RBI), but an injury after kicking a water cooler derailed him. In 2024, Kelenic hit 15 home runs but spent most of the year in Triple-A after batting .167 in 24 MLB games. He is now a free agent.
Justin Dunn
Dunn, another top Mets prospect, debuted in 2019 and had his best season in 2020, going 4–1 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 starts. In 2021, he posted a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts before a shoulder injury ended his season. Since then, Dunn has bounced around, most recently in the Royals’ minor-league system.
Gerson Bautista
Bautista, ranked the Mets’ No. 28 prospect at the time, made little impact in the majors. In 2019, he pitched nine innings for the Mariners, posting an 11.00 ERA. He later spent time in the Giants’ minor league system and played in the Mexican League from 2021 to 2024.
The Last Word
Without a doubt, the Mets won the Edwin Díaz trade. While many initially saw Kelenic as a future star, Díaz has consistently performed as one of baseball’s elite closers. The other prospects never panned out at the major-league level, making this one of the most lopsided trades in recent Mets history.
Main Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
The post How the Mets Won the Edwin Díaz Trade with the Mariners appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.