Edwin Diaz signing with hated Dodgers could unlock Cubs' Winter Meetings moves

Day 2 of the Winter Meetings is off to a blistering hot start as not only did former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year deal worth $150 million, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have done what they do best: poach one of the top free agents off the market.

The Dodgers entered the offseason with a need in their bullpen, after stealing Tanner Scott away from the Cubs last winter, and they addressed it by adding All-Star closer Edwin Diaz.

Initial reports were that Diaz was looking for a deal similar to the five-year, $102 million deal he signed with the New York Mets before the 2023 season, and leave it to Los Angeles to get pretty close to that number. Diaz's pact with the Dodgers is for three years and worth $69 million.

Edwin Diaz's signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers could open the door for the next Cubs' bullpen move.

While the Cubs are potentially shopping for a closer after signing Phil Maton to a two-year deal in November, they weren't going to be involved in Diaz's sweepstakes. The Cubs bowed out of the bidding for Devin Williams once it reached three years for $50 million, and by default, that was going to take them out of the bidding for Diaz.

Diaz's signing should open the floodgates for the bullpen market at the Winter Meetings. All-Star closer Robert Suarez is at the high end of free-agent names the Cubs have been connected to, but they are also believed to have interest in Pete Fairbanks and Ryne Stanek.

There's also the issue of the teams that missed out on Diaz will likely now pivot to the names within the Cubs' shopping tier. The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, two teams that have regularly spent more than the Cubs in recent years, could pivot to Fairbanks now that Diaz is off the market.

After a slow day to open the Winter Meetings on Monday, it seems that business is picking up in Orlando. That doesn't mean that the Cubs will make a move before the end of the week, but momentum may be building.