Why Bryan Abreu’s ceiling as a closer makes him the perfect Edwin Diaz replacement
The slumping Astros closer could be a diamond in the rough.
Why Bryan Abreu’s ceiling as a closer makes him the perfect Edwin Diaz replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Los Angeles Dodgers have been red hot so far in the 2026 season, with a record of 15-6, the best in the NL West and the MLB.
However, they did suffer a huge blow today; their All-Star closer, Edwin Diaz, has been put on the IL . With that in mind, they’ll need to find a replacement to take his place at the end of the bullpen for the foreseeable future . While they have possible inside replacements for the role of closer in Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen, they still need to fill the void of Diaz.
FanSided’s Chris Landers proposes that the Dodgers go out on a limb and acquire Houston Astros set-up man and closer Bryan Abreu, who’s having a rough 2026, but is usually a stud. MORE: Blockbuster Angels trade idea sees Los Angeles land $115 million Cy Young, create powerful 1-2 punch with Jose Soriano “This one requires a bit of a leap of faith, because right now the numbers are ugly: Abreu has posted a 14. 73 ERA and 12.
27 FIP through nine appearances, losing the closer's job in Houston as a result. But prior to that rough patch, he was one of the very best relievers in the sport for several years running, with a 2. 30 ERA and 396 strikeouts in 281.