Latest news with #AlexisDiaz
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dodgers Reportedly Add Former Reds All-Star Closer To Injured Relief Corps
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. According to Sonja Chen of the Los Angeles Dodgers traded minor league right-hander Mike Billani for Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Díaz on Thursday. Díaz was demoted earlier this month due to his poor performance at the beginning of this season. DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 26: Alexis Diaz #43 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 26, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 26: Alexis Diaz #43 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 26, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Photo byDíaz was an All-Star in 2023, saving 37 games while posting a 3.07 ERA with the Reds. In the year prior, Díaz would finish in fifth place in National League Rookie of the Year voting after finishing the season with a 1.84 ERA. Díaz struggled to be consistent this season and was demoted to Triple-A after only six appearances for the Reds with a 12.00 ERA. Once being demoted to Triple-A, Díaz began to right the ship with a 4.61 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings pitched. While that is nothing compared to his All-Star campaign, Díaz is showing some improvement as he is now headed for Los Angeles. Díaz is joining a Dodgers bullpen that has been riddled with injuries in the early portion of the season, with Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, and Michael Kopech on the injured list with various return dates. Díaz is a low-risk option with the upside of returning to his All-Star performance. Kopech is slated to return in late May or early June, but the remainder are out for a good portion of the season. Díaz is under team control until 2027, and with the upside of his returning to form, the Dodgers may end up with an absolute steal for the back end of their bullpen. More MLB: Cubs Interested In Negotiating Extension In-Season For Breakout Star
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reds Cut Ties with All-Star Closer
Reds Cut Ties with All-Star Closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alexis Diaz was underwater from the first drill in spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday for Advertisement Diaz strained his left hamstring in pitcher's fielding practice or PFP. He slipped coming off the mound. The Reds held the 2023 All-Star out for a while. He didn't pitch in Cactus League games well enough and caused concern. He was scheduled to pitch in the final game before leaving Goodyear but was scratched. The Reds wanted him to work to correct his mechanics and permanently vanquish the effect of the injury before entrusting Diaz to hold a lead when the season began. 'We scratched him and we visited with him, DJ (pitching coach Derek Johnson, Franky (Mulloy, manager, biomechanics), Simone (Bannaccorso, strength and conditioning Daytona). What happened was he had the hamstring issue earlier. His lead leg is not where it needs to be. He's got some moving parts,' Reds' manager Terry Francona said. 'There's multiple concerns. We're sending him out there. He's either going to get hurt or pitch the way he needs to. It's just not fair. We're going to give him a chance to get right.' Advertisement The Reds placed him on the 15-day disabled list in March retroactive to March 24. He was reinstated on April 15. Diaz pitched in six games, the last being the first game of a double header with the Cardinals on April, 30. He entered the game in the top of the ninth with the Reds trailing, 1-0. He gave up a three-run home run to Victor Scott II. The Cardinals made it three home runs in succession with Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn doing the honors. The Reds optioned Diaz to Louisville after the second game. 'We told him that we're not giving up on him,' Francona said. Luis Mey was promoted and showed promise but the Reds optioned him to Louisville on Thursday. Emilio Pagan took over the closers role and has saved 13 games in 15 tries and is sixth in MLB. Advertisement It was not just this spring challenge for Diaz. His numbers were progressively worse year-by-year. The ERA was 1.85 in his rookie year 2022, 3.07 in 2023, 3.99 last season and 12.00 this season. His WHIP has gone up each year. Walks per nine innings were higher each year and his strikeouts lower. Diaz pitched a scoreless inning for Louisville on Wednesday to drop his ERA to drop his ERA to 4.61. He is 1-2 with two saves. He walked 12, hit two batters and struck out 16 in 13 ⅔ innings. Diaz was a 12th round pick in 2015. The Reds obtained 22-year old RHP, Mike Villani. Villani made his professional debut with the Rookie-ACL Dodgers earlier this week, logging 2 perfect relief appearances. He was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2024 first-year player draft from Long Beach State University (CA), the same school that produced current Reds farmhands Connor Burns and Graham Osman (both at A-Dayton). Advertisement As a senior at Long Beach State University in 2024, Villani tied for the Big West League lead with 10 saves, tied for 12th-most among all NCAA Division I pitchers. He was the first LBSU player selected by the Dodgers since 2016. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dodgers trading for Reds' former All-Star closer
The post Dodgers trading for Reds' former All-Star closer appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Dodgers are strengthening their pitching staff as the defending World Series champs have acquired former All-Star relief pitcher Alexis Diaz from the Cincinnati Reds. This is Diaz's fourth season in Major League Baseball, and he has spent his entire career with the Reds. He was an All-Star back in 2023. Advertisement 'Dodgers are acquiring reliever Alexis Díaz from the Reds, source confirms,' Fabian Ardaya said in a post. The Reds will get Mike Villani in exchange. Villani was a 13th round draft pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. 'Mike Villani, a 13th round pick in the 2024 draft is going to Cincinnati,' B/R Walk-Off said in a post. Alexis Diaz has had three solid seasons so far in his career, but this year has not gone to plan. His first year in the league was incredibly impressive as he pitched 63.2 innings and posted a 1.84 ERA. The next season was Diaz's All-Star year as he ended up pitching 67.1 innings, and he finished with a 3.07 ERA. Advertisement This season has not been kind to Diaz. He has appeared in six games and has pitched six innings. He has given up eight runs on eight hits, and he has walked more batters than he has struck out. On May 1st, the Reds sent him down to the minor leagues. If the Dodgers can figure out how to get the old Diaz back, that would be huge. Los Angeles was expected to be the best team in baseball year as they are loaded with talent, and they are meeting expectations so far with a 34-22 record. Still, Los Angeles could use some more arms in the bullpen to sure things up. Alexis Diaz has been struggling mightily to start the season, but it's way too early to give up on him. He has had three successful years in the pros before this, so there's no reason to think that the Dodgers can't get him fixed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reds trade former All-Star closer to National League contender
The Cincinnati Reds announced that they have traded their former closer. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Reds moved pitcher Alexis Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Minor League pitcher Mike Villani, according to a team spokesperson. Advertisement TRENDING STORIES: Diaz was an All-Star in 2023 and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022. He went 7-3 in 2022 and finished with 10 saves. In 2023, Diaz saved 37 games in 71 appearances. Last season, he posted a 3.99 ERA with 28 saves. Diaz started this season battling a hamstring injury. He appeared in six games with a 12.00 ERA. Villani made his professional debut with the Rookie-ACL Dodgers this week. He was picked in the 13th round in the 2024 first-year player draft from Long Beach State. Cincinnati begins a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago Friday at 2:20 p.m. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is the Red Sox season already over? Plus, Dodgers make a trade & The Good, The Bad, The Uggla
The Boston Red Sox are 27-31 with May coming to a close and what was a season that started with optimism is beginning to sink into a sour reality as the season pushes past its one-third mark. Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman talk about Boston's floundering 2025 campaign, the issues with roster construction and how manager Alex Cora isn't entirely to blame. Advertisement Can the Red Sox pull out of their early-season hole? Will fortunes change after their first series against the New York Yankees next week? Only time will tell, but it's hard to be optimistic about their chances this season sitting at 4th in the AL East. Meanwhile out west, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a trade! The guys explain the reasoning behind acquiring Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Diaz for prospect Mike Villani. Diaz, who was an All-Star just two seasons ago has regressed significantly, but with the injuries throughout LA's pitching staff, the move made sense for both sides. Closing out the episode, Jake and Jordan dive further into the mechanics of the bullpen phone before closing out the week with a new edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla where pitching injuries reign supreme, the MLB partners with the AUSL & the Miami Marlins have a new baserunning tactic in the minor leagues. (2:25) - Are the Boston Red Sox cooked? Advertisement (22:15) - Dodgers trade for Alexis Diaz (27:40) - Previewing Dodgers/Yankees rematch series (36:40) - More bullpen phone questions (41:30) - The Good, The Bad, The Uggla Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora isn't all to blame for the team's struggles this season as they sit a handful of games under .500 at the end of May. (Photo by) (Photo by) Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ Follow Jake @Jake_Mintz Follow Jordan @J_Shusterman_ 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
