Reds Deal Former All-Star Closer Alexis Díaz to Dodgers

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 29, 2025

Diaz, a former all-star back in 2023 and fifth runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year Award a year before, will be looking to regain the form that took him to stardom a couple of seasons ago, following a demotion to Cincinnati’s triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats, earlier this month.

Thank you, Alexis, for all of your contributions to Reds Country both on and off the field, including your 2023 All-Star season. We wish you all the best in Los Angeles! pic.twitter.com/xI7rp6pdfD

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 29, 2025

Posting a combined 2.47 ERA with 47 saves and 169 strikeouts in 130 games between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Diaz fell victim to regression in his stats, leading him to hold a 3.99 ERA in 2024, following an injury that would sideline him until this season.

Expecting Diaz would once again find his form, Cincinnati took a bet on the former star closer, failing along the way, with Diaz posting a reeling 12.00 ERA in six appearances before being demoted.

So, what’s next for Edwin Diaz’s brother now that he’s heading to the Dodgers, World Series odds frontrunners?

Is a Career Resurgence Next for Diaz?

Following LA and Cincinnati’s MLB trade news, the only real question here now is, can Diaz find his former form and become the reliever LA so desperately needs?

It’s no secret that in a team with such a demanding MLB schedule like the Dodgers, where winds are expected every day, the toll has been increasingly on the team’s bullpen.

Considered by various MLB rumors analysts as one of the busiest pens in all of pro ball, injury issues have been one of the main issues, leading LA to come across consistency issues when trying to close out games.

But here is where LA helping Diaz find his talents once again could become a pivotal piece for the team’s potential playoff and World Series aspirations.

A couple of things on the Alexis Díaz trade 🧵

1. This could be a huge steal for the Dodgers if they can get him back to his 2023 self or close to it!

2. Díaz becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2028 and he’s only 28 years old right now!
pic.twitter.com/C5xxpqU4vT

— Dodgers numbers (@DodgersNumbers) May 30, 2025

If the Dodgers can manage to bring Diaz back to his best form, they will be earning a potential top-five reliever in the league.

Alexis Diaz will be a top 3 reliever in the Dodgers pen by year end. I’m so bullish.pic.twitter.com/AB4ueTeWzk

— Klein25 (@Klein25) May 30, 2025

Looking deeper into the trade, LA made a very good deal here. They bought low and found a top-quality option for a bullpen that’s suffering without Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, and Evan Phillips.

All that’s left is for LA to get to work reconstructing Diaz into the elite closer he was just a couple of seasons ago.