Dodgers News: Team Makes Bullpen Move, Adds Former All-Star Díaz
Former Reds closer comes with high upside potential
LOS ANGELES — Don’t get too excited. It’s the OTHER Diaz. On Thursday, Los Angeles acquired right-hander Alexis Díaz from the Cincinnati Reds in an effort to reinforce a bullpen that’s been stretched thin. The 28-year-old reliever, who made the National League All-Star team in 2023, brings both experience and high-leverage pedigree to a Dodgers team desperate for healthy arms.
Díaz will report first to the Dodgers’ spring training complex in Arizona, where he’ll work with the club’s pitching staff before joining the big league bullpen. The move comes amid a rough stretch for the Dodgers’ relief corps, which has logged more innings than any bullpen in baseball (239 2/3) and has seen an entire rotation’s worth of right-handed options land on the injured list.
As of now, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, and Brusdar Graterol are all sidelined. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers officially moved Phillips to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
To land Díaz, the Dodgers sent Mike Villani—their 13th-round pick from last year’s draft—to Cincinnati. Villani is a catcher out of St. John’s University who had yet to make his professional debut.
A Look at Alexis Díaz
Though Díaz struggled during a brief stint in the majors this season—allowing eight earned runs in six innings across six appearances—his track record speaks volumes. Between 2021 and 2023, Díaz posted a 2.93 ERA over 190 appearances, locking down 37 saves last season alone and becoming a key piece in Cincinnati’s bullpen.
In 2023, Díaz emerged as the Reds’ closer and maintained a strong presence in high-pressure situations, earning his first All-Star selection. His success stemmed from a sharp slider and a deceptive delivery that kept hitters guessing—traits the Dodgers will look to help him refine in Arizona before activating him.
A hamstring strain kept him off the field to start 2024, and his command hasn’t quite been the same since returning. But the Dodgers are betting on their pitching development system to help him regain form. His 2025 numbers are, shall we say, underwhelming. A 12.00 ERA over six innings pitched and a WHIP north of 2.00. No bueno, as they say down in Puerto Rico. So Mark Prior et al will have to sprinkle some magic dust on him to get Diaz back on track this year.
It’s not outside the realm of possibilities. He’s been solid in the near past. Plus, he’s also got a familiar baseball bloodline—Díaz is the younger brother of Edwin Díaz, the flamethrowing closer for the New York Mets.
Low-Risk, High-Upside Move
For the Dodgers, this deal fits their MO: target talented pitchers with a proven track record, even if they’re coming off rough stretches. It’s a low-cost, potentially high-reward move, with Díaz under team control for several more seasons. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, it’s Danny Duffy.
With the bullpen taxed and reinforcements weeks away from returning, Díaz could become a valuable arm if he can return to his All-Star form. Even if he starts off in Triple-A or in lower-leverage situations, he adds immediate depth—and a bit of swagger—to a Dodgers bullpen that’s been running on fumes.
Stay tuned to see when he makes his Dodger debut. If all goes well in Arizona, we might see Alexis Díaz taking the mound at Chavez Ravine very soon.
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