SEATTLE — Since his trade from the Mariners, Edwin Diaz hadn’t returned to his old stomping ground wearing a Mets uniform.
That changed Friday, when Diaz finally got back to T-Mobile Park.
Diaz arrived to the Mets after the 2018 season with Robinson Cano in the trade that sent Jarred Kelenic, Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Justin Dunn and Gerson Bautista to the Mariners.
Diaz, who was drafted and developed by the Mariners, recalled the discussions when he was approached in the minor leagues about shifting from a starter to reliever.
“They told me in the minor leagues, ‘You are going straight to the big leagues if you come in from the bullpen and do your job,’” Diaz said before the Mets’ 6-0 loss to the Mariners. “They put me as a reliever, I did my job and they did it: they brought me up.”
Diaz, who did not pitch Friday, debuted with the Mariners in 2016 and finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
Two years later Diaz led the major leagues with 57 saves.
He recalled preparing to attend a concert with his wife at home in Puerto Rico after the 2018 season when he received a phone call from a Mariners official telling him there was a good chance he would be traded to the Mets.
When he returned from the concert, Diaz said he received a call telling him the deal was complete and he should head to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for a physical.
“Robbie Cano called me … and I said to him, ‘Wherever you go, if I go with you, I will be fine,’ ” Diaz said. “I got lucky. I got traded with him to New York.”
Reed Garrett is back with the Mets, but the reliever was not activated for Friday’s game.
Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated the plan was to wait until the Mets have a need for a fresh arm in the bullpen before activating Garrett from the injured list and making a corresponding roster move.
Starling Marte will join Double-A Binghamton on Sunday to continue his minor league rehab assignment.
The veteran outfielder played two games for Low-A St. Lucie last week.
Mendoza didn’t rule out the possibility of Marte rejoining the Mets at some point on the next homestand.
Marte has been on the injured list since June 25 with a bone bruise in his right knee.
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