What Would a Trade Package Look Like for Alexis Díaz?

Edwin Díaz‘s season-ending knee injury during the World Baseball Classic leaves the Mets bullpen one short as they prepare for the start of the 2023 season. Rumors are starting to resurface about a potential trade for Edwin’s younger brother and Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Díaz. The two teams discussed his availability last July, but the Mets feltEd the price to get him to Queens was too steep.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the combination of Kevin Parada and Alex Ramírez could be what it takes to get a deal done with the Reds. Parada, the Mets’ No. 3 prospect and Ramírez, their No. 4 prospect, are two pieces of the puzzle the organization does not want to part ways with.

Alexis Díaz showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, pitching to a 7-3 record with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.958 WHIP in 63 2/3 innings. The right-hander cannot become a free agent until 2028, so the Reds have quite a bit of team control with Díaz.

Even if the Mets are unable to agree to a deal for Díaz, the expectation is that they will be searching for upgrades in the bullpen as the season unfolds. Newly-signed David Robertson is expected to step into the ninth inning role, and former Tampa Bay Ray Brooks Raley is going be an important piece as the lone left-hander in the bullpen. Veteran Adam Ottavino did close a few games for the Mets last season on his way to posting a 2.06 ERA.

The Mets have some quality arms in the backend of their bullpen, but the loss of Edwin Díaz is one that is hard to recover from. Expect to see owner Steven Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler monitor this situation as the season goes on.