The Angels announced on Monday that they’ve claimed right-hander Dayan Diaz off waivers from the Astros. Fellow right-hander Daniel Wright was designated for assignment in a corresponding roster move.
Diaz was already linked to the Angels in one respect anyhow, as he’d been designated for assignment by the Astros in order to clear a roster spot for Cameron Maybin, who’d been claimed off waivers from the Halos. In essence, the Angels will swap Maybin and Wright out off the 40-man roster for Diaz, though there’s still a chance that they could keep Wright in the organization for the time being.
The 28-year-old Diaz made his Major League debut with the Reds last season but was cut loose at season’s end, at which point he signed a minor league deal with the Astros. In a combined 19 2/3 MLB innings, Diaz has an unsightly 9.15 ERA. While he’s picked up an impressive 23 strikeouts in that short time and averaged 94 mph on his fastball, he’s also walked 11 batters and thrown four wild pitches. In 161 career innings at the Triple-A level, Diaz has a much more appealing 2.96 earned run average with 8.2 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9.
Like Diaz, Wright debuted with the Reds last season but didn’t find much success in the Majors. The 26-year-old tossed 19 2/3 innings with the Halos this year, working to a 4.58 ERA with an 11-to-8 K/BB ratio in that time. Overall, he owns a 5.61 ERA with 4.9 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 in 56 1/3 Major League frames. Wright has logged considerably more time in Triple-A, though the results there have been even less favorable; through 176 1/3 innings at the top minor league level, he’s posted a 6.58 ERA with 126 punchouts against 60 free passes.
Maybin for Diaz? Works for me.
But Wright for Diaz?? Come on now! He couldn’t cut bait with the Reds for crying out loud.
I wish they would add Ángel Pagán. That way they could have Angels in the Outfield.
He is a pagan though, therefore he is the devil.
Wrights AAA numbers arent horribly encouraging, however if claimed and then outrighted I believe he can be under team control through 2019 off the 40-man roster.
Oh and if you are attempting to quantify this as a trade
The L.A Angels have acquired Dayan Diaz in exchange for Victor Alcantara (Detroit) and Cameron Maybin (Houston); Designate Daniel Wright for Assignment
$20 k waiver fees cancel out (LA/HOU) vice versa.
It’s not a trade, but it’s still effectively a 1 for 1 swap