Mets' Buck Showalter discusses possible Edwin Diaz return amid trade rumors

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter suggested Tuesday that injured All-Star closer Edwin Diaz could see some action in September despite the club's woeful record one week after the MLB trade deadline. 

"If Edwin’s available to pitch Sept. 20 for instance, what would you do? What would you do? I hope that happens," Showalter said on Tuesday afternoon, per SNY. "Is it smart for him to pitch or not? Wait 'til next year? Is there something to be gained? I hope we have those conversations." 

Diaz, the 2022 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner, famously suffered a right patellar tendon tear that required him to have surgery as he celebrated a Puerto Rico win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in March. 

There was hope as far back as the spring that Diaz could feature for the big-league Mets at some point this season, but that was months before the team completed a noteworthy fire sale that included landing prospects for veterans such as reliever David Robertson and also co-aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. 

The 51-61 Mets began Tuesday seven-and-a-half games back in the battle for a wild-card playoff spot that they seemingly waived the white flag on via their pre-trade-deadline transactions. On Sunday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that Diaz could be made available for would-be suitors this coming offseason if he proves in September he's fully recovered from his setback. 

Diaz signed a five-year, $102M contract with the Mets last November. 

"Right now we’re just trying to get him healthy and available and once that happens we’ll go down that road," Showalter added about Diaz. "But those are the things you ask yourself." 

Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a letter recently sent to season-ticket holders that he'll field a "formidable" team next season. Trading Diaz before spring training seemingly would go against that promise, but it appears Cohen is open to at least considering such bold moves as he looks to replenish the club's farm system for the second half of the 2020s.