Mets haven't reached out to Reds about Alexis Diaz after losing Edwin Diaz

It appears the New York Mets won't make a move for a familiar name to replace star closer Edwin Diaz before Opening Day. 

According to SNY staff, Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall told Jim Bowden of SiriusXM on Monday that Mets GM Billy Eppler has not reached out regarding the potential availability of Cincinnati reliever Alexis Diaz, Edwin Diaz's younger brother. 

MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY previously reported the Mets considered attempting to trade for Alexis Diaz last summer "but deemed the price too high." 

As noted by Pat Ragazzo of FanNation's Inside the Mets, Alexis Diaz isn't arbitration eligible until 2025 and is under team control through the 2027 season. Thus, the Reds have no reason to want to trade the 26-year-old at any point this year unless they are blown away by an offer made by the Mets or any other team. 

Edwin Diaz shockingly suffered a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee as he and his Puerto Rico teammates celebrated a victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this past Wednesday. 

It was originally reported that he will likely miss the entire 2023 MLB season, but Will Sammon of The Athletic raised eyebrows when he reported ahead of the weekend that "a person close to" Diaz said "there is some optimism" the right-hander could return to the bump late during the upcoming campaign. 

A healthy Edwin Diaz was arguably the best overall relief pitcher in all of MLB last year and won the 2022 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award. According to Paul Casella of the MLB website, Diaz's 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings was good for the highest single-season rate by any pitcher with at least 60 innings completed in league history. 

The MLB website also mentions that Alexis Diaz finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting for 2022. He recorded 10 saves and posted a 1.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 83 strikeouts across 63.2 innings of work. 

While there's no replacing Edwin Diaz's production from last year, the Mets will hope that veteran David Robertson will prove to be at least a solid closer this spring. If neither he nor Adam Ottavino routinely impresses before the summer months, New York likely will look to make a significant move ahead of the trade deadline.