NY Mets rumors revisited: What the Reds wanted for Alexis Diaz in 2023

There couldn’t be a more appropriate time to revisit these past New York Mets rumors. The Mets and Cincinnati Reds are playing while Edwin Diaz’s brother Alexis Diaz sits on the waiver wire trying to figure out what’s next. Traded by the Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers early this season, his fall was a mighty one and maybe a little unexpected for those who hadn’t watched.

A 7.80 ERA combined with the two teams in 15 innings of work, Diaz wobbled last season but this year has fallen completely off the map. A large part of his year has been spent in the minor leagues. Apparently, there haven’t been enough positive signs to keep him around any longer. His salary, already at $4.5 million, is likely a turn-off for most clubs on a project in need of some work. Could he make his way all the way to the Mets on the waiver wire? The odds are better than it may seem, unless of course the Atlanta Braves stick their toes in there like they’ve been doing.

On March 24, 2023, Diaz was entering his second big league season. He’d be an All-Star and the price tag on him was reportedly high. How high? In retrospect, maybe a little higher than your ranch-style home.

The Mets-Reds trade for Alexis Diaz that never happened

According to the NY Post’s Jon Heyman, Francisco Alvarez was the desired “non-starter” target. Pivoting away from him, Cincinnati made eyes on a package of Kevin Parada and Alex Ramirez. Kind of silly now that we think about it. Diaz was a young-up-and-coming star reliever. Parada and Ramirez were stud prospects who’d be in the big leagues by 2024.

Ramirez was non-tendered back in November 2024 after another poor stint in the minors. The Mets re-signed him but cut bait earlier in 2025. Parada has finally shown positive signs and is now in Triple-A. Maybe there is something to tap into with him after all or at least a better trade to use him in.

A well-known “almost” deal between the Mets and Reds took place in the summer of 2016 when Jay Bruce came to Queens. Reportedly, Brandon Nimmo was one of the players in a version of the trade package.

Max Wotell and Dilson Herrera ended up being paired together for the lefty slugger rental. It’s a good thing. An alternative universe of Nimmo doing commercials for Skyline Chili is hard to fathom. Gary Cohen threw up a little bit thinking about the possibility.