Reds Beat: With Alexis Diaz Dealt To The Dodgers, Reds Have Some Work To Do In Their Pen

CINCINNATI — Now that the Reds have finally moved on from Alexis Diaz, how are they going to address depth in the back end of their bullpen?

Emilio Pagan has certain done a commendable job closing games, converting 13 of 15 saves heading into Friday’s game in Chicago. Tony Santillan, Brent Suter, Scott Barlow, Ian Gibaut and Graham Ashcraft are late-inning leverage relievers. But in terms of the traditional shutdown closer, the Reds thought they had one in Diaz.

Then 2025 hit. He managed to give up eight hits and eight earned runs over six innings over six appearances, walking five and striking out just three. His velocity had dipped to a high-end of 93 mph. The last straw was his performance against the Cardinals on April 30 when he allowed three straight home runs and five runs in the ninth inning, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 6-0 laugher for St. Louis.

He was optioned after the game and traded Thursday to the Dodgers for a minor league pitcher who appeared in two rookie league games in Arizona.

The Reds closing options right now are Pagan and by committee on days Pagan isn’t available. Complicating matters is that the Reds have taxed their bullpen at times in the last three weeks. Since April 28, two days before Diaz’ implosion, Reds relievers have combined for 108.2 innings, sixth-most among all Major League bullpens in that span, behind Milwaukee (120.1), Dodgers (118.1), Athletics (110.2), Boston (110.0), and Toronto (109.1).

The Reds have dabbled in numerous options to try and bolster the pen, brining up the likes of Luis Mey and Lyon Richardson while Gibaut rehabbed and Diaz looked for solutions. Chase Petty is stretched out but not ready for primetime quite yet. Rhett Lowder is out indefinitely with an oblique strain. Perhaps the most intriguing option is Chase Burns, a 22-year-old starter at Double-A Chattanooga who looks Major League polished and pushing for a chance.

David Price provided a late-season bullpen boost to the 2008 AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays in his rookie season before transitioning nicely to a starter’s job for the rest of his career.

Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall announced the acquisition of 22-year-old minor league right-hander Mike Villani for Diaz.

Villani made his professional debut with the Rookie-ACL Dodgers earlier this week, logging 2 perfect relief appearances. He was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2024 first-year player draft from Long Beach State University (CA), the same school that produced current Reds farmhands Connor Burns and Graham Osman (both at A-Dayton).

As a senior at Long Beach State University in 2024, Villani tied for the Big West League lead with 10 saves, tied for 12th-most among all NCAA Division I pitchers. He was the first LBSU player selected by the Dodgers since 2016.

For the Reds, they unload the balance of his $4.5 million contract for 2025, a low-level prospect in return and clear up a spot on their 40-man roster that now sits at 39. The Dodgers get a 2023 National League All-Star with two years of club control remaining.