Alexis Díaz Wows MLB: Reds’ Fireball Closer Sets Franchise-Record Save Streak in Nail-Biting Victory

Alexis Díaz, the hard-throwing right-hander who saved 37 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2024, is heading west after Thursday’s surprise deal that sends the 28-year-old reliever to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Double-A pitching prospect Mike Villani and future considerations, the clubs announced this afternoon. The move gives Los Angeles an immediate boost to a bullpen that has struggled to close out games while injured co-closers Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol remain on the shelf. Díaz, who owns a career 2.89 ERA with 12.8 K/9 across three big-league seasons, returned from a spring hamstring strain earlier this month and has touched 98 mph in six appearances since coming off the injured list. Manager Dave Roberts indicated Díaz will be used in late-inning leverage and could reclaim ninth-inning duties once he acclimates to pitching coach Mark Prior’s program. For Cincinnati, the trade signals a commitment to a youth movement and payroll flexibility. Villani, 23, was the Dodgers’ No. 14 prospect according to MLB Pipeline; he boasts a 1.96 ERA and 31 percent strikeout rate in the Texas League and features a plus slider that scouts project to play in high-leverage relief. By moving Díaz’s projected $5.2 million 2025 arbitration salary, the Reds create space for their trio of cost-controlled arms—Fernando Cruz, Sam Moll and top prospect Chase Petty—to audition for the closer’s role in the second half. Why the Dodgers paid the price • Bullpen metrics: L.A. relievers rank 20th in MLB in save percentage (59 %) and 24th in hard-hit rate allowed. • Reverse-splits weapon: Díaz limits lefties to a .186 average thanks to a sweeping slider that tunnels off his four-seam fastball. • Postseason depth: Los Angeles now has a potential October relief trio of Díaz, Phillips and Ryan Brasier, matching the back-end dominance of NL rivals Atlanta and San Diego. Why the Reds pulled the trigger • Dip in swing-and-miss: Díaz’s whiff rate fell from 36 % to 29 % after MLB cracked down on foreign substances, fueling whispers that his 2024 All-Star campaign might be his peak. • Prospect pipeline: Cincinnati views Villani’s five years of team control as a better fit for its competitive window with Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer. • Budget management: With Joey Votto’s option buyout still on the books, reallocating bullpen dollars helps ownership pursue a frontline starter this winter. Fantasy baseball impact Managers scrambling for saves should grab Lucas Sims, who owns a 2.45 ERA and has converted both opportunities in Díaz’s absence. In NL-only formats, Villani merits a speculative stash given the Reds’ history of fast-tracking power arms. What’s next for Alexis Díaz? The Puerto Rican native, younger brother of Mets closer Edwin Díaz, brings postseason experience and a fearless mound presence that famously produced a strikeout of Shohei Ohtani in last year’s All-Star Game. If Díaz regains his 2023 command (3.5 BB/9 vs. 4.9 BB/9 this season), he could serve as the Dodgers’ primary closer before free agency in 2027, positioning himself for a lucrative multi-year deal in an increasingly volatile reliever market. Los Angeles opens a four-game set against the Giants tomorrow; look for Díaz to be activated once visa paperwork clears. With Dodger Stadium already humming during a first-place run, the newest Diaz brother just added an extra decibel to Chavez Ravine.