Headlines

  • A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger
  • Mariners Designate Rowdy Tellez For Assignment
  • Braves To Select Didier Fuentes
  • Anthopoulos On Trading Chris Sale: “Will Not Happen”
  • Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg In “Advanced” Talks To Sell Team
  • Rafael Devers To Start Work At First Base With Giants
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Diamondbacks Select Yilber Diaz

By Leo Morgenstern | July 8, 2024 at 4:43pm CDT

July 8: Arizona officially selected Diaz’s contract on Monday afternoon. The D-Backs optioned lefty reliever Joe Jacques to Triple-A in a corresponding active roster move. They already had a vacancy on the 40-man roster after releasing Tucker Barnhart, so that is now at capacity.

July 5: The Diamondbacks are “likely” to promote pitching prospect Yilber Diaz for his MLB debut next week, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The right-hander would get the ball to start Monday night’s series opener against the Braves. Diaz is not on the 40-man roster, but the Diamondbacks currently have an open spot on the 40-man, so they would not need to make a corresponding move to select his contract.

Diaz made his professional debut for the D-backs organization in 2021. After pitching to a 4.17 ERA and 3.66 FIP in 14 starts at Double-A between 2023 and ’24, he earned a promotion to Triple-A this June. In four starts with the Reno Aces, he has a 3.27 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. On the season, he has an impressive 33.2% strikeout rate in 15 outings between Double and Triple-A. The 23-year-old is averaging just over five innings per start.

Diaz is currently ranked as the #16 prospect in the Diamondbacks system, according to MLB Pipeline. Baseball America and Keith Law of the Athletic both had him at #15 on their preseason lists. Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice of FanGraphs were a little higher on Diaz, ranking him #6 and expressing more faith in both of his breaking balls (a slider and curve) to be potential plus pitches. Ultimately, however, all four sources agreed that the righty’s future is most likely in the bullpen. He throws a mid-90s fastball that can touch the high-90s; if his velocity were to tick up out of the ’pen, he could be a flame-throwing relief weapon.

Yet, for now, Diaz remains a starting pitcher, and he will take on the biggest test of his starting career on Monday. The Braves offense has struggled for much of the season, especially against right-handed pitching. Regardless, they’re going to be a far tougher opponent than a Triple-A club, and Diaz has hardly even faced much Triple-A opposition.

Although the rookie might benefit from a bit more seasoning in the minors, the Diamondbacks are a little desperate for starting pitching after Jordan Montgomery landed on the injured list last week. Rookie Cristian Mena made his MLB debut in Montgomery’s place on Wednesday, but the results were poor. He lasted only three innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits, three walks, and two home runs. Mena struck out just two of the 15 batters he faced, and he has already been optioned back to Triple-A. The only other healthy starting pitcher on Arizona’s 40-man roster who isn’t already in the rotation is Tommy Henry, who has a 7.04 ERA in 38 1/3 MLB innings this season.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Arizona Diamondbacks Transactions Yilber Diaz

Braves Select Eddie Rosario
Main
Angels Designate Miguel Sano For Assignment
View Comments (16)
Post a Comment

16 Comments

  1. rwautlet

    12 months ago

    If you look beyond the box score you would know that Mena’s results in his spot start were not poor. Against the Dodgers he did give four runs in the first inning facing the likes of Ohtani, Freeman, and Will Smith. Then he went two more innings not giving up another hit. Considering he is 21 and was previously one of the youngest pitchers in AAA, those results are pretty good.

    3
    Reply
  2. Homer_Heins

    12 months ago

    For a team with high expectations, they have been giving way too many innings to young and developing pitchers.

    Reply
    • Sourcetags

      12 months ago

      This comment is confusing to me. Do you think it’s something they’re doing instead of giving innings to veteran, established starting pitching?

      Gallen was out for a month
      Kelly has been out for most of the season
      Rodriguez has been out all year
      Montgomery is STRUGGLING and now hurt
      Pfaadt has made every start

      There’s five guys that aren’t young and developing (except pfaadt but he’s earned a spot in the rotation).

      Maybe they should consider having some veteran infielders pitch instead?

      4
      Reply
      • hannibal4467

        12 months ago

        What Source said. We have 2 starting rotations: the main rotation piecemeal with young pitchers and the other rotation in the tub. The team with “high expectations” is doing pretty damn good all things considered. Imagine if we had veteran starters over the whole season…

        Reply
    • sidewinder11

      12 months ago

      Agreed. The DBacks have been really silly keeping Gallen, Kelly, ERod and Montgomery on the IL with fake injuries so they can have tryouts for their young guys. Not sure what their front office is thinking. *rolls eyes*

      Reply
  3. Motor City Beach Bum

    12 months ago

    The Dbacks match up as well as any team with the Tigers for a Flaherty trade (unless he is actually hurt, then no one will maych up with them). The Tigers need bats, a young C prospect and a young SS prospect. Barrosa(OF), Cerda (C) and Torin (SS) all look like the type of hitter that the Tigers target. He could slot in for ex-Tiger Rodriguez and give the Snakes a strong top 3 for the playoffs.

    Reply
    • brandonmarin

      12 months ago

      The problem is that we already have our ideal rotation on the books, they just can’t be healthy at the same time. If all of the 5 planned starters get healthy and we add Flaherty, who gets the boot?

      Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        12 months ago

        Is Erod coming back? If so that might nix that idea. Although I saw one article suggesting they look for a replacement for Montgomery since he’s pitching so poorly.

        Reply
        • Lets Go DBacks

          12 months ago

          They cannot put someone else in instead of Montgomery. The guy is on a 25MM contract and will certainly opt in after this disastrous season. Gallen, Kelly, Rodriguez and Montgomery will be in next year’s rotation with Pfaadt.
          Diamondbacks could look for another starter but the question of what to do when they are all healthy is legit, and they will be at some point this season, whether in August or September.

          1
          Reply
        • Motor City Beach Bum

          12 months ago

          I can see how that would be an issue and then you are left with who to send to the pen. It’s always a balancing act.

          Reply
  4. Motor City Beach Bum

    12 months ago

    He must be getting bored with all that waiting. Is he at least catching up on Netflix shows?

    Reply
  5. Old York

    12 months ago

    With the Braves in their sights, it’s a high-stakes debut for the young hurler.

    1
    Reply
    • DarkGhost

      12 months ago

      Kid pitched his ass off tonight! 6IP 1 ER

      2
      Reply
  6. sufferforsnakes

    12 months ago

    And Sewald blows another. He should never close again.

    Reply
    • Angels & NL West

      12 months ago

      Third gut punch in a week. That was brutal… again.

      1
      Reply
      • sufferforsnakes

        12 months ago

        He has the worst stuff of any closer in baseball. It amazes me whenever he actually gets an out.

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger

    Mariners Designate Rowdy Tellez For Assignment

    Braves To Select Didier Fuentes

    Anthopoulos On Trading Chris Sale: “Will Not Happen”

    Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg In “Advanced” Talks To Sell Team

    Rafael Devers To Start Work At First Base With Giants

    Giants Acquire Rafael Devers

    Shohei Ohtani To Make Dodgers Pitching Debut On Monday

    Roki Sasaki No Longer Throwing; No Timetable For Return

    Nationals To Promote Brady House

    White Sox, Brewers Swap Aaron Civale, Andrew Vaughn

    Justin Martínez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Brewers’ Aaron Civale Requests Trade

    Angels To Promote Christian Moore

    Brewers Promote Jacob Misiorowski

    Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala

    Jackson Jobe To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue

    Royals Place Cole Ragans On IL With Rotator Cuff Strain

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Recent

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Miami Marlins

    Ivan Herrera To Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Strain

    Jack Flaherty Escalates 2026 Player Option Value To $20MM

    Kyle Gibson Opts Out Of Rays Deal

    A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger

    Fantasy Baseball: Targeted Streaming for RHPs

    MLB Issues Suspensions Related To Dodgers-Padres Incidents

    MLB Issues Four-Game Suspension To Pirates’ Dennis Santana

    Ron Washington Taking Indefinite Break From Managing Angels Due To Health Concern

    Pirates Re-Sign Brett Sullivan To Minor League Deal

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version