The Orioles have announced their deal with reliever Mychal Givens, making it official. In a corresponding move, first baseman Lewin Díaz has been designated for assignment.
Díaz, 26, was originally signed by the Twins and was highly-touted as a prospect due to his power bat and strong first base defense. Baseball America ranked him one of the top 30 Minnesota farmhands in four straight seasons from 2015 to 2018. The Twins flipped him to the Marlins in a 2019 trade that sent Sergio Romo and Chris Vallimont the other way.
Díaz has spent the past few seasons in the Marlins’ system, hitting well in the upper levels of the minors but struggling in the majors. Over the past three MLB seasons, he’s made 343 plate appearances but has a paltry .181/.227/.340 batting line to show for it. In Triple-A over the past two seasons, however, he’s hit 39 home runs in 680 plate appearances and has a much more palatable .250/.325/.504 line. That production was 15% better than league average, as evidenced by his 115 wRC+.
On the defensive side of things, his big league numbers are much more positive. He always was graded well for his glove work as a prospect and that seems to be holding true as he’s reached the majors. Defensive Runs Saved has given him a +16 grade so far, with Ultimate Zone Rating coming in at 3.4 and Outs Above Average at +9.
That work in the field gives Díaz a solid floor as a glove-first option, with his strong offense in the minors giving some hope that he could develop into a two-way contributor. He’s now out of options but is still young and has just over a year of MLB service time. There’s enough intrigue in his profile to attract clubs around the league. The Marlins designated him for assignment in November but he has since landed with the Pirates and Orioles on waiver claims. The O’s will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers.
Anyone ever notice the weird font ‘w’ for the headers before?
You’re crazy man. I like you, but you’re crazy.
I haven’t, and it is now blowing my mind. It occurs in the comment box when typing as well, but changes once you submit.
He’s pretty bad, especially at a position where hitting is pretty important and defensive doesn’t mean a ton.
You had Freeman there for years. Try watching the Pirates year in and year out with guys that have trouble catching throws or can’t throw from first to 2nd or Home or worse yet have trouble underhanding the ball to the pitcher covering 1st. Defense does mean something at 1b.
That is the coaching staff’s fault. They need to emphasize fundamental skills over launch angles. Repeated drills until it becomes second nature – some old school training (forget the manscaping and gold chains).
Some players can’t do defense no matter what. No coach could teach Shaq to hit his freethrows.
In the case of the Pirates, something is amiss where instruction is concerned. Whether it is poor plate discipline, base running, situational game knowledge or basic fundamentals, how can an entire season go by with no discernible signs of progress on the mound, at bat or in the field?
@ 99point8—Multiple coaching staffs over the last 30 years. It was the players……..
@tIred one–actually there was improvement. Not going through the whole roster but Keller improved on the pitching side and Cruz improved on his plate discipline greatly as the season went along. He was not chasing near as much the last month as he did when he first came up.
He’s not pretty bad, he is plain bad. But only in Miami vs lhp. In Pittsburgh Baltimore he could have been at least average vs rhp.
He might have to try overseas ball at this point
He probably will as soon as teams get done claiming him ever other week. Can’t till released from the contract.
Not when you have at least 2 mlb teams interested in you.
Finally some real baseball news.
Lewin is getting bounced around pretty good!
Is it possible to be claimed by half the league during an off season and never see the field for one of those teams?
LOL! I wonder what the record for claims for one offseason is??
Pirates should claim him again.
Should have kept in the first place.
Stop screw-in with Lewin!!!
Lewin DFAz can’t catch a break.
Lewin some, you lose some.
We
Next stop: Tampa Bay?
Some gms need to be fired if he makes it that far. Not saying he won’t.
I always thought it was odd to give a top 30 prospect list when 25 or now 26, is all that a big league club can carry.
A lot of fodder on the backend of that list to make the general public feel like they got something back in a trade.
Strange number. Top 10 20 50 are more common. Even 25 or 40.
The MLB Pipeline top prospect list, is directly funded and heavily marketed in an attempt to keep salaries and payrolls at bay.
Remember that movie,”Inside Lewin Diaz”? He was a folk singer in that one.
Good odds of being above average 1b. Someone should find a spot for him.
[Sarcasm alert] Diaz to the Padres. 4 year/$50M guaranteed. Player opt outs every year.
This poor guy can’t catch a break. DFA again.