Mets closer Edwin Díaz expect...

The New York Mets will be without their great closer in the 2023 MLB season. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Edwin Daz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic victory on Wednesday. DAZ will have surgery to fix the injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the year.

DAZ was hurt after closing off Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic victory over the Dominican Republic. The win advanced Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals.

Following the victory, team Puerto Rico members gathered on the field and leaped up and down. Daz seemed to injure himself during the scrum, however the incident was not caught by event cameras. When the broadcast returned to a scrum, a few players crouched over Daz, who was on the ground with his right knee up.

Daz walked off the field in a wheelchair. After Edwin fled the scene, his brother and teammate, Alexis Daz, was spotted weeping.

Díaz injury causes debate over World Baseball Classic

The circumstances surrounding the injury have prompted questions about whether it's worth it for Major League Baseball players to take part in the World Baseball Classic. Díaz, who signed a five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets in November, will not be able to play for the team in 2023 after getting injured while playing for another club.

Will more MLB players drop out of the event due to fears of injury? Will teams prevent their players from taking part in future World Baseball Classics? Will the event fold all together?

Omar López, manager of team Venezuela, doesn't believe any of that will come to pass. He pointed out how important it is for many players to represent their countries on such a big stage.

Mets will need bullpen help without Díaz

Díaz's injury leaves the Mets without their primary closer for 2023. Díaz was arguably the best reliever in baseball last season, posting a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 62 innings. He was named to the All-Star team for the second time in his career and received down-ballot MVP votes.

Currently, the Mets have Adam Ottavino and David Robertson to fill in for Díaz. Both Ottavino and Robertson turned in excellent seasons in 2022 and have experience closing games. The Mets could seek another option in the pen now that Díaz is out, but either way, the team is still expected to be one of the best in the National League.