Reliever Miguel Díaz elected free agency after clearing outright waivers, the Astros informed reporters (including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). Houston had designated him for assignment on Monday.
Díaz made all of one appearance in an Astro uniform. Houston had only claimed him from the Tigers last week. He tossed a scoreless inning in his lone outing but was pushed off the roster when the Astros called up Blair Henley for a spot start. Díaz is out of minor league options, so a DFA was the only way to remove him from the big league team.
A former Rule 5 pick of the Padres, Díaz logged the majority of his MLB time with San Diego between 2017-21. He struggled early on, which isn’t surprising for a player who had never pitched above the High-A level before the Friars selected him. Díaz found more success in a minuscule sample of work with Detroit between 2022-23, tossing 17 2/3 frames of two-run ball. That he nevertheless went unclaimed on waivers suggests teams view those numbers with a fair amount of skepticism.
Díaz tallied 57 frames with a 5.05 earned run average for Detroit’s top affiliate last season. While that’s not an eye-catching number, his 28.6% strikeout percentage was a few points better than the league mark. Those swing-and-miss numbers should allow Díaz to secure a minor league deal now that he’s on the open market.
Uncle Steve he’s better than Reed Garrett or whoever give him a call.
The Astros DFA’d him to bring up a AA starter who lasted 1/3 of an inning and got creamed. Might as well have kept the guy. Plus their bullpen is a certified disaster now, and the rotation is getting there fast. I’m starting to miss Jeff Luhnow.
Can always sign him back.
NO! Miguel Diaz has betrayed the teachings of Miyagi-do and Eagle Fang Karate !?!?
Now THAT is a good call. I mean, who would’ve thought he could ever pitch again after taking that nasty fall over the rail.
Preller loves his cast offs. Miguel Diaz, you are an El Paso Chihuahua
Any MLB team, including the Astros, should do everything within their power to convince Jeff Lunhow to come in as their GM. Dude is a genius as well as a baseball and business savant. Cheating thing happened. He should’ve had eyes on it, la la la. We let domestic abusers back onto teams for Pete’s sake…
AGREED!