Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets have been keeping an eye on Alexis Díaz, the closer for the Cincinnati Reds, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Díaz — the brother of Mets’ closer Edwin Díaz — has been overpowering this season for the Reds. The 26-year-old is 14-for-14 in save opportunities while pitching to a 1.48 ERA and 0.822 WHIP. Like his brother, Díaz has an elite strikeout rate, and is averaging 17 strikeouts per nine innings. For reference, (Edwin) Díaz registered 17.1 SO/9 in his elite 2022 season.
Adding Díaz wouldn’t be easy. In his article, Heyman highlighted that the Reds would require a haul back for their closer. While the Reds are 29-34, they are only five games out from first place, and four games out from the last National League Wildcard spot. Trading their closer wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense, especially since they’ve called up top prospects in Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, and Nick Lodolo to propel the team into a pennant chase with the Brewers.
While the Mets have been monitoring Díaz, Heyman wrote that there hadn’t been any communication between the two teams. If the Mets’ were to call Cincinnati, Heyman stated the Reds would seek young pitching back in return. An immediate name that comes to mind would be David Peterson, or maybe one of Mike Vasil or Dominic Hamel.
That being said, trading for Díaz would stabilize the Mets’ bullpen for 2023 and beyond. David Robertson has been the Mets’ only consistent reliever this season, but is starting to regress (4.91 ERA and two blown saves in his last six games). Meanwhile, Díaz would be paired with his brother (Edwin) next season, and the duo on the same team would potentially form the best bullpen tandem in baseball.
