The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a noteworthy move by acquiring relief pitcher Alexis Diaz from the Cincinnati Reds, and MLB Network host Greg Amsinger sees this as a significant opportunity for the pitcher to regain his old form. “He’s going to put on that uniform and be a star reliever again,” Amsinger confidently stated, and it’s tough to disagree when you look at Diaz’s track record.
In this trade, the Dodgers sent minor leaguer Mike Villani to Cincinnati, while also moving right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips to the 60-day injured list to accommodate Diaz on the roster. This strategic maneuver underscores the Dodgers’ need for reinforcements in their bullpen, which has faced challenges with several key arms currently on the injured list.
Diaz first burst onto the scene with the Reds in 2022, making a solid impression with 59 appearances and a stellar 1.84 ERA that earned him a fifth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. His trajectory continued upward with a standout performance in 2023, where he made the All-Star team, boasting a 3.07 ERA and notching a career-high 37 saves alongside 86 strikeouts over 67.1 innings of work.
However, 2024 brought struggles, as Diaz saw his ERA climb to 3.99, and in the early going of 2025, he found himself grappling with performance issues. After allowing four home runs in just six innings and suffering through a difficult 12.00 ERA, the Reds optioned him to Triple-A Louisville in a bid to help him regain his confidence.
For the Dodgers, the 28-year-old Diaz brings the promise of bolstering a relatively thin bullpen. With other key pitchers such as Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, and Michael Kopech currently dealing with injuries, Diaz is set to step into a crucial role—likely that of the closer—just when Los Angeles needs it most.
Currently, Diaz is working on his mechanics at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona, a process that the team hopes will help him get back on track to his previous level of performance. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism about the acquisition, stating, “The main thing is we got to get him back to being the player that we’ve seen in the past, and he’s just not there right now. It was a good get. We’re excited about getting this player and potentially getting him kind of dialed in and hopefully expect him to help us.”
As the Dodgers look to refine their roster for a deep postseason push, all eyes will be on Diaz to see if he can fulfill his potential in the blue and gold and contribute significantly to the team’s success.
