Dodgers add All-Star closer to roster after key trade

Billy Heyen

Dodgers add All-Star closer to roster after key trade image

In late May, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for a former All-Star closer.

On Tuesday, for the first time, he'll join the MLB roster.

The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reports that Alexis Diaz is coming up to join the big league club.

Diaz was an All Star in 2023 when he had a 3.07 ERA, 37 saves and 86 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.

In 2024, he had a 3.99 ERA with a worse strikeout rate and a reduced 28 saves.

In his first six outings this season before the Reds traded Diaz to the Dodgers, he had a 12.00 ERA, and then he had an ERA just under 5.00 at Triple-A before the deal.

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Los Angeles acquired the brother of Mets closer Edwin for minor league pitcher Mike Villani.

Since joining the Dodgers' organization, Diaz has made six appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Things haven't really improved. He has a 9.64 ERA, with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Diaz has walked seven hitters in that span, not a good sign.

This feels mostly like bullpen desperation for the Dodgers, trying to find someone with some life.

But if Diaz doesn't find some better form in a hurry, he won't be much help to L.A. anyway.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle