The Pirates have non-tendered catcher Elias Diaz, Adam Berry of MLB.com tweets. He’s the only player they non-tendered.
Pittsburgh has been the sole organization so far for the 29-year-old Diaz, who has never demonstrated much offensive prowess at the major league level. Since debuting in 2015, Diaz has batted a meager .250/.301/.355 with 13 home runs in 815 plate appearances. He has accounted for an ugly minus-1.0 fWAR in that span, and is coming off a defensive season in which he ranked dead last in Baseball Prospectus’ Fielding Runs Above Average metric.
All things considered, it’s no surprise the Pirates and new general manager Ben Cherington are moving on from Diaz. They’d have owed him a projected $1.4MM in 2020. However, now that Diaz is out of the mix, the catcher-deficient Pirates are that much thinner behind the plate. Jacob Stallings is the lone catcher on their 40-man roster.
they stuck with him this long only to non-tender him now? classic Pirates.
He’s going to be 29. He’s no longer a minimum salary guy. And he’s not good at baseball. Seems like a smart move to me.
They have new leadership.
This is new Pirates management…playing by new rules. BC doesn’t seem like the type of guy over his career to dump a player at a critical position without a plan. If they don’t bring in someone to replace him via trade or signing then I will be shocked.
“He’s the only player they non-tendered.” Poor fella. When you say it that way, I feel like it should come with a slide-whistle sound.
Does this mean that Jacob Stallings is now the #1 catcher or will the bus go all in for a free agent?
bucs not bus.
Wow didn’t expect him to be non tendered.
Mets please!!!! Way better than Nido
He was pretty good in 2018, and missed all of spring training in 2019. Maybe they can get him back on a cheaper deal, but I won’t be too upset if this is the last as him as a Pirate.
How much would he cost next year that they couldn’t keep him around to see him in camp?
They have Stallings and exactly nothing else at catcher.
Well does it matter when they don’t really have anyone to throw the ball?
If only there were some way to tell how much he’d cost next year… Like reading the article you commented on…
Well at least this indicates the Pirates are getting another catcher. Do they view Stallings as the everyday catcher, I wonder who the next catcher will be? Maybe Narvaez but I think the Mariners want prospects so I doubt that will happen. Will it be Romine the ex-Yankee free agent or a young prospect to compliment Stallings. Cherington may have the inside track for McGuire, Jansen or Riley in the Jays farm. This may not indicate the Pirates new direction for the team but I believe the choice for the next catcher will.
Marte will be dealt and a catcher among others will be coming back.
Or maybe Bell
But either way somebody is getting moved
What do you see coming back in a trade for Marte or Bell in the catching position? Do you think Cherington will trade for a player already on a MLB roster or a teams near MLB prospect?
I’m still saying they should really ask about Luis Campusano.
If they trade for a young prospect he is a likely option. I think Campusano would be a nice pick up but he is not going to be ready for another year or so. I think them getting rid of Diaz means they may also sign a veteran on a 2 year contract to platoon w/ Stallings until Campusano is ready.
Campusano is a good target in a Marte trade, but they definitely need more. I’d say Campusano and two other prospects (don’t have to be top guys) should get it done.
If it is for Marte only then getting Patino along with Campusano is probably not an option but for Marte I like Campusano with LHP Cantillo & RHP Banuelos. If they balk at both pitchers maybe young international OFer Olivares can come back w/ Cantillo & Campusano instead of Banuelos. Banuelos & Olivares are on the Padres 40 man roster, so including one of them will make space for Marte.
It’s not like the Pirates are going to be competing in the next year or two if they do decide to rebuild.
I agree Campusano fits right into the Pirates plans given their earliest window is 2022, Mainly because the Cubs & Brewers farms are depleted and it looks like they are ending their windows in the next 2 years. The Cardinals will lose many key pieces in the next couple years but have young talent, so it depends on how they develop. Then the Reds seem to be undetermined about direction and odds are they won’t have it figured out in the next couple of years. If the Pirates make the right moves to supplement their core and rising stars this team should be atop the division in 2022. .
How about Marte to the Mets for SS Andre Gaines and SP David Peterson?
I agree, I think Hedges returns in deal surrounding Marte.
Padres will splurge, I feel a Myers deal soon though however to facilitate money for Marte. I don’t see a scenario where Marte is added before Myers is subtracted.
I doubt the Pirates target Hedges unless it’s after they also acquire a young catching prospect from another trade.
McCann from the WSox could be had in a trade, prospect cost likely not too high
Pirates are looking to trade veterans for prospects not trade prospects. I think McCann could be part of a deal for one of the Pirates trade pieces though.
Maybe a deal for Archer for McCann and a good prospect?
I could see McCann & RHP Stiever for Archer but I do not think the Pirates trade Archer on his current value so if he goes in a trade it may require a team to over pay, so the White Sox may offer LHP Flores as well. I can see maybe the Pirates sending money with Archer to increase the return and may get Stievers & 1B Sheets.
Bullseye.
Steele Walker?
I really like OF Steele Walker and 1B Gavin Sheets and think both fit in the Pirates future plans. To get Walker though I think it would have to be as a piece in a trade for Bell or Marte.
McCann just signed. If they couldn’t afford Diaz with his upside they surely won’t pay for McCann who’s making millions.
Diaz has no upside. That’s why he was non-tendered.
Agreed, what upside? Lol that ship has sailed.
Is Ed Ott still available?
What about Manny Sanguillen?
Diaz had family problems last offseason and an abbreviated ST.I hope that they can sign him to a minor league contract and basically give him a chance like they did Stallings last year.He was good as the backup in 2018.
There is one poster on this site who has been clamoring for Romine to become a Bucco in the same manner that Chris Stewart,Russell Martin,and Francisco Cervelli have successfully done in the past.That seems to be the best solution to me.The Pirates need to learn to successfully add through free agency.
Interesting move. I am not overly excited because there is no chance of winning in the immediate future. It would be nice to get a prospect catcher in a trade for Marte or Bell. I can see Pirates bring back Russell Martin on a one year deal. His offense is declining but has pretty good pitch frame. I just wonder if Pirates are working out a deal with the Blue Jays since Pittsburgh is hiring several ex-Blue Jays. Just like what Huntington did with the Indians, trade to former employer. As much as I am still angry about Reese McGuire being traded away, I am not sure if Pirates should bring him back or go younger talent. Getting McGuire back, gives the Pirates 2023 (if I am correct) of team control. Going younger and having a guy around to 2026, seems like a better scenario. That is when the Pirates could possibly contend again between 2022-2026 time frame.
But no word on a new pitching coach with spring training a few months away. They better get one soon, because he has a lot of homework to do when he signs on the dotted lines.
I wonder if they are somewhat obligated to make a trade with the Blue Jays like they made with the Marlins when the Marlins poached a front office guy then Jim Benedict from the Pirates within a month or so of each other.
The Pirates acquired Trevor Williams in that trade for an average minor league pitcher.
Had such great hope for him as he was behind Cervelli and on track to be our catcher of the future, just never came together. Cervelli was an artist at framing pitches and I thought he would be a perfect teacher to Diaz. Elias also not able to discern when to make throws to other bases and when not to do it. Led to many costly errors in judgement. Still may learn from the right coach/player but nearing point of no return.