The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen has been a disaster in 2025, and Alex Anthopoulos isn’t sitting on his hands. In the latest shake-up, the Braves claimed right-handed reliever Alexis Díaz off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, hoping the once-promising arm can rediscover his All-Star form.
Díaz, the younger brother of Mets closer Edwin Díaz, has had a rocky ride the last two seasons. Just two years ago, he was one of the National League’s breakout relievers, boasting 2.47 ERA over his first 131 big-league innings.
But things went south in 2024 with the Reds, where he finished with a 3.99 ERA and shaky command. The struggles only deepened in 2025: after issuing nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts and giving up eight runs in just six innings, Cincinnati shipped him to the minors.
The Dodgers took a chance in late May, acquiring Díaz in a trade. But LA didn’t see much better. He logged just nine big-league innings with a 5.00 ERA while spending most of his time stashed in Triple-A. By last week, the Dodgers designated him for assignment — opening the door for Atlanta to make its move.
The advanced metrics tell the story: Díaz’s strikeout rate has cratered to just 16.9% in the majors this year, while his walk issues remain glaring. His minor league work hasn’t been much prettier, with a rough 7.80 ERA between Louisville and Oklahoma City.
Why Are the Braves Interested?
Simple, it is all about upside and cost. With two more years of arbitration control, Díaz could be a cheap bullpen piece if Atlanta’s staff can help him rediscover his early-career dominance. If he flames out, the team can simply non-tender him this winter and move on.
It’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward flier Anthopoulos has taken before. The Braves don’t need Díaz to turn into a superstar overnight — they just need an arm who can eat innings and stabilize a bullpen that’s been leaking runs all summer.
If Díaz gets back anywhere close to his 2023 form, he could be a sneaky addition for 2026. If not, well — it’ll be another name on the long list of relievers Atlanta cycled through during this forgettable season.
