10:38AM: Rays manager Kevin Cash told Topkin and other reporters that Diaz is away due to a matter involving his family, and that his potential return is a day-by-day situation.
9:41AM: The Rays announced that first baseman Yandy Diaz has been placed on the restricted list, and infielder Curtis Mead was called up from Triple-A to take Diaz’s spot on the active roster. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (X link) writes that Diaz didn’t play on Friday due to what the Rays described as “a personal matter.”
Given the private nature of this situation, we may not learn any specifics about Diaz’s absence until he is activated or at least closer to a return. The absence comes at a financial cost to Diaz, as he’ll lose salary (as well as MLB service time) for any time spent on the restricted list. Diaz has about $3.3MM remaining on his $8MM salary for the 2024 season.
A staple of Tampa Bay’s lineup for the last six seasons, Diaz has gotten regular time at both corner infield positions and quietly delivered consistent strong offense. Diaz hit a new level in 2022-23, hitting .314/.406/.475 over 1158 plate appearances — among all qualified hitters over that two-season stretch, only six players had a higher wRC+ than Diaz’s 155 mark.
That production has dipped in 2024, as Diaz’s .273/.329/.396 slash line over 416 PA translates to an 111 wRC+. While he has been hitting better after an ice-cold start over the first two months, Diaz’s power numbers have dropped off significantly, as his .123 Isolated Slugging figure is well below his .192 mark from 2023. His .123 ISO is at least more consistent with previous seasons beyond 2023, yet Diaz’s 7.5% walk rate is far below his career 12.2BB%.
Even a lesser version of Diaz is still a big part of Tampa’s lineup, so the Rays now have to deal with an unexpected absence while trying to stay afloat in the playoff race. Diaz has been utilized only as a first baseman and DH this season, so it seems likely that Isaac Paredes could be shifted from third base to first base, with Mead stepping into the mix at the hot corner along with Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario.
Diaz’s absence also creates another wrinkle for whatever plans the Rays might have heading into the July 30 trade deadline. Tampa is 48-49 and sits 5.5 games out of the final AL wild card slot, so there is still plenty of time left for the club to make a run towards another postseason berth. However, it has been speculated that the Rays could look to operate as both sellers and buyers at the deadline, perhaps bolstering for both this season and for the future while also trimming some salary from the payroll. If Diaz is still on the restricted list by July 30, it stands to reason that the Rays might pursue some infield help, though it is worth noting that Paredes could be a potential trade candidate. Star prospect Junior Caminero is just returning to Triple-A action in the aftermath of a quad injury, and it is assumed that a healthy Caminero will again be called up to Tampa Bay’s active roster to join the infield picture.
Well run club, but Rays will be more sellers than buyers.
You can only say half this statement about the Cubs.
Thanks for the bread crumbs from Hansel and Gretel. Can’t say that I disagree with you.
Sounds like that Yandy thing is none of my business. Well, I’ll make it my business d@mmit!
Is it me, or did it seem like Cleveland gave up on Yandy because Tito didn’t like him or his hustle?
Completely false, it was because he hit way too many groundballs and couldn’t launch
I just remember Tito having a sit down with him, then he never really got much playing after that.
I think that might have been the rumor with Francisco Mejia between that and his alleged refusal to play anywhere else but catcher. I’m pretty sure they just missed on Yandy though.
Yandy came up as a 3B, who could play 1B.
But the then Indians were set at both positions. The biggest need was a RH bat that could play corner outfield.
Yandy was either 1) unable or 2) unwilling to do so…and so he was soon on his way elsewhere.
At the time Yandy was traded, Cleveland had two off season goals….
1) Reacquire Carlos Santana, who had left in free agency.
2) Move Edwin Encarnacion’s contract.
Cleveland needed money to partially offset Santana’s salary, and thru a complicated three team trade, was able to meet each goal.
When the dust had cleared…
Seattle ended up with Encarnacion and a draft pick.
Tampa ended up with Yandy and Cole Sulser.
Cleveland ended up with Santana, enough money to make Santana affordable, and Jake Bauers.
I’m a Twins guy, but man, Jake Bauers was so disappointing with Cleveland. Sometimes trades just don’t work out. That acquisition has nothing on the some recent Twins moves, like Gil for Jake Cave, or the disaster deadline deal of the century: trading Steer, CES, and the pitcher out of U. of Michigan. I suppose the deal with the Orioles for Lopez in exchange for Cano, Povich, and more, wasn’t much better…
I agree with most of what you said but if that’s the case then acquiring Bauers made no sense for them, even at the time.
He was a left handed hitter who was primarily a first baseman so he didn’t really address any of those needs, although I remember them trying him in left a few times which didn’t really go well. Swapping Encarnacion for Santana worked out and obviously Santana could switch hit, but replacing Yandy for Bauers didn’t fix anything. I know he was a former top prospect and they probably just liked him and thought the rest would take care of itself, but it just didn’t work out.
Fans misconstrue the trade as Yandy for Bauers. If that was so, it was a disaster for Cleveland. But that wasn’t the trade.
Overall, the trade worked out well for Cleveland. They traded a draft pick, a young reliever, a $22 million contract, and a spare part and/or malcontent for a bust, about $6 mil, and Santana. (Who then had a career year…All Star, Silver Slugger, and down ballot MVP votes.)
“He’s a heck of a hitter for a younger guy and he’s going to get better,” said Francona. “And we’re just trying to make him understand how important it is to play every aspect of the game. Hopefully, I think he’s starting to get it more and more, because as he does, it’s going to get exciting”
This was what I was thinking of. So not in the doghouse. However, Cleveland obviously didn’t think he was the long term answer at 1B/DH which would lead to the Santana and then Naylor trade.
I don’t look at it as a straight up swap of Yandy for Bauers so I agree that you definitely have to look at the whole deal, but identifying Bauers as a target and Yandy as an expendable piece were missteps looking back.
Francona never bad mouthed a player, but those that didnt fit the culture were soon gone.
If you followed Tito closely, the ‘and we’re just trying to make him understand how important it is to play every aspect of the game….’ is very telling.
Bauers was a top 100 prospect that didnt work out…and he didn’t fit the culture, either.
LMMFAO they don’t want just respect, they want “special treatment” and benefits. I guess you want your daughters competing in sports against boys , on second thought it’s probably not an issue for you.
I’ve raised my 3 daughters to know that they can compete against anybody, male or female. Honestly, I hope you don’t pass your snowflake and bigoted attitude to your children (if you even have any.)
Prayers and thinkings for the speediest of resolutions.
Some white folks scream “woke” when anything offends them despite not knowing what’s going on with Diaz.
I used to think, “man, they should keep the comments open, even in tough times we can have good conversation!” I no longer feel that way.o
I for one am glad they closed the Franco comments as they would consist only of the same joke said in twenty different ways or home judges who would have locked him up as soon as the news broke.
I just don’t think it’s productive to really waste time talking about guys who will never play in MLB again. This includes Trevor Bauer and Franco.
What will it take to get Yandy to Seattle
The reality is that it could be any personal matter. The fact that the “anti-woke” crowd, which I guess is intentionally ignorant, assumes that Diaz is a victim of “woke culture” without any evidence is awesome. Never take responsibility for the things you do or say. I love the intentionality of your ignorance. It makes for a lot of fun in a comment section.
Sounds like this family matters could have been on going. Yandy certainly does not seem himself this year.
The Rays FO have really missed on background checking and fact checking guys recently. Very disappointed in them. Next will be a problem with Arozarena or Siri or Paredes. If they just do due diligence and sniff out these issues and consult the players in the first place, they may be better off.
Longo is available