Let's talk about Alexis Diaz...

[Benjamin Grimm]

...because everyone else seems to be.



Edwin's younger brother. 26 years old. Debuted with the Reds last year. 1.84 ERA. 83 strikeouts and 33 walks in 63.2 innings. 7-3 with 10 saves. He's not yet eligible for arbitration and has five more years of team control.



Who would it take? Parada? Vientos? Would the Mets make such a deal? Should they?



And most importantly, would they play the trumpet music for Alexis?

[Edgy MD]

That young man wouldn't come cheaply. A ready-to-open package like Mark Vientos may be more appealing to Cincinnati, but it's anybody's guess. There's a lot of variety in how different organizations value closers. I guess that's why they tend to move at the deadline, when people are making the equivalent of emotional, impulse buys.



It's like they're displayed near the register, like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and you kind of throw them into the basket without doing a hard value calculation.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I'd love to have him and he's actually a really good sibling player (apologies, Mike Glavine). But he would cost a ton, easily one of those guys you mentioned.



I'd still be real hesitant. Especially this early. Everything could still go very right or very wrong and we may not even need him.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wonder... do the Reds have any big contracts they're eager to shed? Taking on one or two of those may sweeten the pot for Cincinnati.

[A Boy Named Seo]

That Joey Votto guy.

[cal sharpie]

This is the last guaranteed year of Joey Votto's contract. Have to figure the Reds would take too much of a publicity hit in trading him now. Also, the Mets don't need him.



I for one have no issues with us trading one of our blocked players like Ronny Mauricio for him.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I maybe would've been fine with trading Mauricio for something until I saw him swatting lasers this spring and looking like a switch-hitting Oneil Cruz. I want him around forever.

[metirish]

I would hate to see Ronny go (despite him being blocked at the minute, as notes above ) curious to see what he'll become

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm not trading Ronny for no relief pitcher.



Vientos? yep

[A Boy Named Seo]

Fangraphs currently has 25-year old Spencer Steer projected as their number 9 hitting, third baseman, Votto as their DH. I didn't know much about Steer, but he's got an .846 OPS plus in 1200 PA in the minors, .23 points higher than our guy Vientos. Youth, depth and Votto at DH might still make Vientos somewhat desirable, though.