The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization announced this week that they’ve signed first baseman Lewin Díaz (relayed on X by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO). The CAA Sports client receives a $50K salary with up to $20K in incentives for the stretch run. The Lions also paid a $100K release fee to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico, the Mexican League team with which Díaz had been playing. Samsung waived outfielder Ruben Cardenas in a corresponding move.
Díaz, 27, was an MLBTR staple during the 2022-23 offseason. He changed teams via waivers or minor trade four times that winter. The Orioles eventually succeeded in sneaking him through waivers and kept him in Triple-A for all of last season. Díaz had a decent year in the minors, hitting .268/.362/.442, but never got an MLB look from Baltimore. He qualified for minor league free agency over the winter and signed a non-roster deal with the Nationals.
Washington released Díaz at the end of camp. He didn’t land another affiliated deal, instead making the move to Mexico. The left-handed hitter has mashed at a .376/.452/.647 clip with 19 homers across 75 games in that very hitter-friendly league.
Díaz was a fairly well-regarded prospect with the Twins early in his pro career. Minnesota dealt him to the Marlins as part of a deal for reliever Sergio Romo in 2019. Díaz didn’t hit major league pitching over parts of three seasons in Miami, running a .181/.227/.340 slash in 112 games. He has been an above-average Triple-A batter, posting a .258/.341/.479 mark in nearly 1200 plate appearances at the level.
Now, for a different Diablos Player to sign with an mlb team…
robinson cano!
Bring Bauer back!!!!
I miss 24.
Lol simpy abuser lovers gonna simp
Crypto, I cant wait till Manfred is gone. But there is nothing we can do about that sadly. He has never and will never do something good for baseball.
Sewald, you clearly have done a ton of research and sound like a really open person who would never let their emotions cloud the reality of a situation, and im sorry I brought this up!
Lol it’s hilarious how Bauer simps think they’re the informed ones 🙂
If you are so informed, please enlighten me. I am always trying to get a new perspective on things, from what I have seen i have developed my opinion on said situation but I wouldn’t mind hearing out what you have heard and believe to gain more perspective.
It is not my responsibility to educate you. Just to point out that you are not educated. Bauer has more accusers than parents, and no one has absolved him of anything.
Mate. “You’re wrong, but I won’t say why or explain why I’m right.” Civil discussion is needed for progress to be made, and people like you hold back society. Shame on you.
Best 1B glove in baseball.
I am still flummoxed that the Nats didn’t give him a shot at 1B.
If he could get a full season playing MLB he’d be favourite for the platinum glove. Sadly not very likely. I wish him luck in Korea
Well, if the White Sox need a new outfielder Cardenas might be their guy. It feels weird that the Samsung Lions would release a guy who was hitting well for them, especially after a small amount of games played. I’m guessing something happened like what happened to Aaron Brooks which forced the KIA Tigers to release him a few years ago