Cincinnati Reds and Alexis Díaz avoid arbitration, agree on $4.5 million deal

That’s one more arb-eligible under contract!

Thursday, January 9th marks the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange figures in the arb process. In other words, it marks the final time the two parties can agree on a number for the upcoming 2025 MLB season without an independent arbiter having to get involved, a messy process that both sides almost always attempt to avoid.

Per Mark Sheldon (and his colleague Mark Feinsand) of MLB.com, the Cincinnati Reds and closer Alexis Díaz have avoided an arbitration hearing and agreed on a $4.5 million salary for 2025, his first year of arb-eligbility.

The arbitration process is a tricky, mostly outdated one. Its values are based largely on traditional stats like dingers, hits, and - in the case of closers - saves. Díaz, who emerged as the Reds closer midway through the 2022 season, has amassed 75 saves over the last trio of years (while also receiving Rookie of the Year votes in ‘22 and an All Star appearance in ‘23), all of which led to his rather large initial arbitration salary.

The model produced by MLB Trade Rumors suggested he’d land a $4.2 million deal for ‘25, which he obviously cleared by a little.

Infielder Santiago Espinal ($2.4 million) reached an agreement with the Reds earlier in the offseason, while Brady Singer is reportedly in agreement on an $8.5 million salary for the upcoming year. That leaves six other currently rostered Reds currently mired in the potential arbitration process: LHP Nick Lodolo, LHP Sam Moll, the newly acquired Gavin Lux, C Tyler Stephenson, C Jose Trevino, and OF Jake Fraley.