Edwin Diaz will not return to the mound for the New York Mets this season.

The Mets have decided to focus on the offseason and a 2024 return for their closer, who is working back from a patellar tendon injury in his right knee suffered in the World Baseball Classic.

Jeremy Hefner told MLB.com that Diaz will continue to throw bullpen sessions as the season winds down, but there will be nothing beyond that.

"It's too risky," Hefner said. "I'm not as concerned about the pitching. It's more about fielding and a ball getting hit back at him and he has to get out of the way, and really it's about covering first base and covering a bunt. I have very little concern about him pitching at the moment.

"If we were in a different situation as a team, we definitely could have pushed to the point where he'd probably be pitching in games right now. Obviously you saw with our team this year, he's an integral part. We can't do anything to risk next year by reinjuring an already unprecedented injury. That's where we're at right now."

Diaz underwent surgery on March 16 after suffering the injury at LoanDepot Park in Miami.