MLB Rumors: Teams Pursuing Reds Star Rookie

His brother is the best in the business, having just signed a massive extension giving him the largest contract ever for a closer. But Edwin Diaz's little brother Alexis is no slouch either. He just completed a rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds in which he posted a 1.84 ERA, and gave up a measly 28 hits in 63 innings. Wow. 

No wonder, then, that teams are checking in with the Reds about a possible trade for the prized young reliever. Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a number of teams have asked the Reds about Diaz's availability. He admits, however, that it  “would take an absolute haul to even pique the Reds’ interest” in a Diaz trade.

The 5th-place finisher in NL Rookie of the Year voting was actually a target of the New York Mets back at the trade deadline, as they had hoped to pair him with his older bro in an attempt to convince Edwin Diaz to stay in Queens long-term. Of course, they've since signed Edwin to a 5-year, $102M deal, so whether their interest is still high is unknown. 

Alexis seems like an important piece going forward for the rebuilding Reds, and another star closer in the making. In addition to his 1.84 ERA, he posted a 0.96 WHIP, and struck out 11.7 batters per nine innings. He finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting. The only part of his game that needs some work is his control, as he walked a very high 4.7 per nine. 

Photo: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK