The Texas Rangers made a notable roster move today, sending right-hander Alexis Diaz down to Triple-A. This decision follows Diaz's designation for assignment last Friday to make room for Jalen Beeks on the 40-man roster.
Diaz, at 29, is no stranger to the spotlight. As the younger brother of Dodgers' closer Edwin Diaz and a former All-Star himself, he has had his moments in the big leagues.
Drafted by the Reds in the 12th round back in 2015, Diaz made a memorable entrance into the majors in 2022, posting a stellar 1.89 ERA over 59 appearances. His performance earned him an All-Star nod the following year, solidifying his role as Cincinnati’s closer.
However, the 2024 season presented challenges. Despite finishing strong with a 2.83 ERA from July onwards, his strikeout rate took a dive from over 30% in previous years to just 22.7%.
The 2025 season didn't offer much reprieve for Diaz. His strikeout rate slipped further to 20.0%, while his walk rate hit a career-high 14.1%.
He found himself bouncing between the Reds, Dodgers, and Braves, struggling with an 8.15 ERA across 18 major league appearances. Atlanta eventually moved on from Diaz, leading him to free agency.
Texas saw potential in Diaz, signing him to a $1 million MLB deal. It was a low-risk move, with hopes that Diaz might reclaim his early career form and potentially become a key piece in the bullpen.
However, Spring Training has been rough. Diaz has allowed eight runs while managing just five outs over three appearances, with control issues evident in his four walks and one hit batter.
Given these struggles, it was no surprise when he cleared waivers unclaimed. Diaz has the option to decline the assignment, but doing so would mean forfeiting his $1 million salary for 2026.
It's likely he will accept the assignment and continue working with the Rangers at Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers are hopeful they can help Diaz regain his form, as he remains under team control through 2028.
Meanwhile, the bullpen will rely on veterans like Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Jakob Junis, and Jalen Beeks to hold down the fort.