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Mets' Edwin Díaz Won't Appeal 10-Game Suspension After Ejection for Foreign Substance

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJune 26, 2024

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23:  Umpires check the glove and hands of pitcher Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Diaz was ejected for having an illegal substance.  (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has opted against appealing his 10-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball rules on pitchers' use of foreign substances.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo relayed the news from Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on Tuesday as the team was getting ready for a two-game home series against the crosstown rival New York Yankees.

"We want to move on from it," Mendoza said after a reporter asked why Díaz didn't appeal. "We don't want this cloud to be hanging over the team for too long. And we decided it was best."

Díaz was ejected before throwing a pitch prior to the ninth inning of the Mets' 5-2 road win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Crew chief Vic Carapazza tossed Díaz after a routine foreign substances check.

ESPN @espn

Edwin Diaz was ejected after umpires inspected his hands and glove before throwing a pitch to the Cubs in the 9th inning. <a href="https://t.co/rXugw13udM">pic.twitter.com/rXugw13udM</a>

The ESPN broadcast (h/t Awful Announcing) appeared to show a dark brown substance on Díaz's thumb and fingers.

Díaz and Carapazza both gave their opinions on the matter afterward, with the closer claiming the substance was "rosin, sweat and dirt."

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo

Crew chief Vic Carapazza said through a pool reporter that Edwin Díaz's hand was "extremely sticky" and "discolored."<br><br>"It definitely wasn't rosin and sweat," Carapazza said. "We've checked thousands of these. I know what that feeling is."

An ejection for foreign substances mandates an automatic 10-game suspension since MLB's new policy was enacted three years ago.

Díaz will now sit through July 5, meaning he'll miss games against the New York Yankees (two), Houston Astros (three), Washington Nationals (four) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (one).

Mendoza told reporters that the team will "mix and match" when it comes to filling Díaz's spot in the interim.

"I'm pretty sure we're going to have to reshuffle some things here, but we just got to take it one game at a time," Mendoza said. "See where you're at bullpen-wise and then go from there. The good thing is we got depth. We got people with options and we'll get through it."

Notable options include Reed Garrett, Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith and Jake Diekman.