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Braves urged to trade for Reds $4.5 million All-Star after surprise demotion

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The Sporting News
4h ago

The Atlanta Braves are facing a challenging season, with their bullpen underperforming, highlighted by All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias's struggles. With a bullpen ERA of 3.94 and a combined fWAR of -0.1, they rank 15th and 27th respectively in Major League Baseball, sparking the need for improvement. A potential solution has been proposed by baseball writer Chase Owens, suggesting the Braves consider trading for Cincinnati Reds' reliever Alexis Díaz, who was recently demoted to Triple-A after a disappointing start to the season. Despite Díaz's struggles, he is seen as a possible bounce-back candidate, having had a solid past performance with a 2.93 ERA over his first three seasons. The decision would require careful consideration from the Braves, as Díaz's current issues and the team's immediate needs must be weighed against the potential benefits of acquiring him before the trade deadline.

Braves urged to trade for Reds $4.5 million All-Star after surprise demotion

The Atlanta Braves' bullpen is struggling this season, with All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias not meeting expectations, contributing to the team's challenges. The bullpen's 3.94 ERA ranks 15th in MLB, while their -0.1 fWAR ranks 27th, indicating a pressing need for improvement.

Baseball writer Chase Owens suggests the Braves should consider acquiring Reds' reliever Alexis Díaz, who has been demoted to Triple-A after a poor start to the season, marked by a 12.00 ERA and a 14.22 FIP over six innings.

Díaz's demotion follows a hamstring injury, and there is speculation he might have been trying to regain form, which could make him a valuable bounce-back candidate if the Braves decide to pursue a trade.

At 28, Díaz has a history of strong performance, boasting a 2.93 ERA in his first three major league seasons, which could make him an attractive option for the Braves despite his current struggles.

Díaz is under contract for $4.5 million this year, with two years of arbitration remaining, making him a potentially strategic acquisition depending on the Braves' standings and trade deadline considerations.

While the Braves need immediate bullpen help, they must carefully evaluate the risks and rewards of adding Díaz to their roster, particularly given their current struggles at the major league level.

The situation remains dynamic, as any decision will hinge on the Braves' performance and standing changes relative to the Reds as the trade deadline approaches.

It's been a disappointing season on many fronts for the Atlanta Braves, and the bullpen deserves its fair share of the blame.

All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias has not been up to par, and the rest of the bullpen behind him hasn't been any better. Atlanta's relievers own a 3.94 ERA, which ranks 15th in Major League Baseball, but their -0.1 combined fWAR ranks 27th.

It's always good to be on the lookout for more bullpen talent, especially when a group is struggling. But what sort of help might the Braves realistically be able to find?

According to one baseball writer, the Cincinnati Reds' latest high-profile roster decision could provide the answer.

On Sunday, FanSided's Chase Owens suggested that the Braves could trade for Reds 2023 All-Star reliever Alexis Díaz, who was demoted to Triple-A earlier this week after a shockingly bad start to the new season coming off a hamstring injury.

"Díaz certainly earned his demotion, with a terrible start to his 2025 season," Owens wrote. In six innings of work, Díaz has a 12.00 ERA, 14.22 FIP, and -0.5 bWAR.

"It's very plausible that he was slowly working his way into form before the poor results forced his hand and he began pressing. Anthopoulos would have to be stingy in who he would part with, but if the price is right... Díaz could be the perfect bounce-back candidate."

Díaz, 28, owned a 2.93 ERA in his first three seasons in the majors, though that number climbed with every passing season. He's making $4.5 million this year and has two remaining years of arbitration.

The Braves might not want a project at this point when they're struggling to get results at the major league level. Díaz could be a name to keep an eye on, however, if the two teams swap places in the standings between now and the trade deadline.

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