Texas Rangers Sign Alexis Díaz to Bolster Bullpen

The Texas Rangers are taking a calculated gamble on former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz. They’ve signed the 29-year-old right-hander to a one-year deal, hoping a new environment (and maybe some pitching tweaks) can help him regain the dominant form he once showed with the Cincinnati Reds.

Rangers Take a Low-Cost Swing on Alexis Díaz

This move fits a familiar pattern under president of baseball operations Chris Young. He likes to find arms that were once elite but have lost some shine, then see if Texas can help them bounce back.

With several key relievers gone and the bullpen looking pretty unsettled, Díaz isn’t coming in as a sure thing. He’s more of a late-inning option with upside than a guaranteed fix.

A Former 12th-Rounder Who Became an Elite Rookie

Díaz’s story with the Reds started far from any spotlight. Drafted in the 12th round, he was never really seen as a fast-track star.

Still, he forced his way to the majors and quickly became one of the most effective relievers in baseball.

In his rookie season, Díaz put up a sparkling 1.84 ERA. He dominated hitters with a lively fastball and a sharp breaking ball.

He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting, which is pretty wild for a late-round pick. The Reds trusted him in big moments almost right away.

All-Star Peak and Sudden Decline

By 2023, Díaz had gone from breakout story to established late-inning force. But things started to unravel just as quickly, creating the buy-low chance Texas now finds interesting.

All-Star in 2023: Strikeouts, Saves, and Control Concerns

The 2023 season was Díaz’s high point in Cincinnati. He made the All-Star team and finished third in the National League with 37 saves.

His strikeout numbers jumped off the page. He struck out 31.2% of the batters he faced—numbers you expect from the best closers.

But even then, a 12.8% walk rate hinted at command issues lurking beneath the surface. His stuff was good enough to get away with it, but that cushion has disappeared.

2024 Regression: Fewer Strikeouts, Same Walks

In 2024, Díaz collected 28 saves, yet his performance slipped. His strikeout rate dropped to 22.7%, and the control issues didn’t get any better.

Without the same ability to miss bats, the walks became a bigger problem. Outings grew more unpredictable.

What once looked like occasional wildness started to look like a real trend—a reliever relying more on luck than command.

Injuries, Demotion, and a Journeyman Turn

The 2025 season changed everything for Díaz. Instead of building on his early success, he ran into injuries and inconsistency.

From Injured List to Triple-A to the Dodgers and Braves

Díaz began 2025 on the injured list, which killed any real chance at a quick rebound. When he did return, one rough outing led to a demotion to Triple-A—the Reds were clearly running out of patience.

He was traded to the Dodgers, but that stint was short and forgettable. The Braves then grabbed him off waivers, and not long after, Díaz chose free agency, leaving the team that drafted him behind.

The Profile: Less Velocity, More Risk – But Still Intrigue

The Rangers see a simple appeal here. The arm that once closed games at an All-Star level is still there, even if the window for error is smaller now.

Declining Fastball, Persistent Walks, and Elite Extension

The biggest change in Díaz’s profile is his velocity drop. His fastball used to average 95.8 mph, but now it sits around 93.6 mph.

That’s not a death sentence for a reliever, but it does make things tougher when your game depends on overpowering hitters.

The control issues are even more concerning. High walk rates, which were once fine because of all the strikeouts, have become a real problem as the strikeouts have faded.

The upside? Díaz still gets great pitch extension—he releases the ball closer to the plate, making his velocity play up and giving hitters less time to react. Even without triple-digit heat, that can make at-bats uncomfortable.

How Alexis Díaz Fits into the Rangers’ Bullpen Plan

Texas heads into this stretch with a lot of bullpen questions. Several important relievers have left, so there are innings and high-leverage spots up for grabs.

That’s where Díaz’s shot comes in. If he can find some of his old form, maybe there’s something here worth the risk.

Jordan Tiegs and the Rebuild of a Bullpen

The Rangers’ bullpen now has a new pitching coach, Jordan Tiegs. He’s got his hands full trying to stabilize a group that’s been in constant churn.

Díaz joins a cluster of arms, all scrambling for those late-inning spots. What sets him apart? He’s actually closed games in a big market and, for a while at least, handled that pressure.

For Texas, it’s a low-cost, high-variance play. If Tiegs and the Rangers can sharpen Díaz’s command and help him use his pitches more efficiently, maybe they’ll uncover a bargain for the late innings.

In a bullpen that’s always changing, Alexis Díaz brings both risk and opportunity. Isn’t that the kind of bet contending teams have to make in today’s wild reliever market?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Rangers To Sign Alexis Diaz