In a move that has Major League Baseball buzzing, the Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired former All-Star closer Alexis Diaz from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league right-hander Mike Villani Diaz, once a dominant force in the Reds’ bullpen with 47 saves and a.47 ERA across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, has struggled this year after a hamstring injury and control issues derailed his performance His 2024 campaign saw a steep decline, with a.00 ERA over six appearances and a demotion to Triple-A after surrendering multiple home runs in a single outing.
The Dodgers, facing a rash of injuries to key relievers, are betting on a change of scenery to help Diaz rediscover his form For now, Diaz is undergoing fine-tuning at the Dodgers’ Arizona facility before potentially joining the big-league roster In return, the Reds receive Mike Villani, a promising 13th-round pick from the 2024 draft who has impressed in early minor league action with five strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
Both teams are hoping this trade marks a turning point: the Dodgers look to stabilize their bullpen, while the Reds invest in fresh talent for the future.
