Reds avoid arbitration with top reliever following inconsistent 2024 season

The Cincinnati Reds will bring back Alexis Díaz in 2025 at the price of $4.5 million. The Reds closer avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal with Cincinnati following an unpredictable 2024 campaign.

Last season, Díaz went 2-4 with a 3.99 ERA in a career-low 56 ⅓ innings of work. Díaz was still able to rack up an impressive 28 saves, but walks were a major problem for the right-hander in 2024. Díaz allowed 31 free passes to just 55 punch outs and posted career highs in both WHIP (1.296) and FIP (4.57).

Reds avoid arbitration with Alexis Díaz following inconsistent 2024 season

This was Díaz's first time through the arbitration process. Thankfully the two sides avoided the messiness that can unfold when in arbiter is called upon, and the $4.5 million figure is only $300K higher than MLB Trade Rumors had estimated earlier this offseason.

Díaz will surely occupy the role of closer once again in 2025, though new Reds manager Terry Francona may use the right-hander a bit differently than former skipper David Bell. Díaz made two appearances in the seven inning last season and nine during the eighth, though the lion's share of his outings came in the ninth inning or later. The 28-year-old made three multi-inning appearances in 2024 and entered eight times with runners on base.

The Reds bullpen took a hit earlier this offseason after the club traded Fernando Cruz to the New York Yankees in order to secure catcher Jose Trevino. Cincinnati was in need of a backup to starting catcher Tyler Stephenson, and shipped Cruz to the Bronx as part of the return.

Díaz now joins Brent Suter, Emilio Pagán, and Sam Moll as the quartet of hurlers who'll surely be part of the Reds relief corps in 2025. The remaining four spots could go to any number of relief pitchers, with Tony Santillan, Casey Legumina, and perhaps even Graham Ashcraft in the mix.

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