The Padres are signing catcher Elias Díaz to a minor league contract, tweets Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. Venezuelan reporter Rafael Petit was first to report (on X) that Díaz and the Padres had come to an agreement.
Díaz has been a free agent since he was released by the Rockies on August 16. He reportedly declined to pursue an opportunity with the Giants because San Francisco wasn’t willing to guarantee he’d remain on the MLB roster after starter Patrick Bailey returned from injury. Díaz won’t immediately jump onto the big league club with San Diego, though a minor league deal now is arguably preferable to a brief major league stint in San Francisco with the possibility of being released in September.
The timing of the signing makes no financial difference for the veteran catcher. Díaz is still guaranteed the entirety of his $6MM salary from Colorado. If San Diego calls him up at any point, they’d pay him the prorated $740K league minimum (which would drop off the Rockies’ books). Díaz has more than six years of MLB service and will return to free agency at the end of the season regardless. His primary goal with this deal is finding a potential path to a playoff roster.
San Diego is eight games ahead of the Giants in the standings, so they’re obviously much more likely to make the postseason. A player only needs to be in an organization — not on the 40-man roster — by the start of September to be eligible for the playoffs. MLB can and frequently does grant permission for players on minor league deals to participate in the postseason as substitutes for injured players. Díaz would be eligible for postseason play with the Friars even if they don’t add him to the MLB roster within the next five days. Had he signed with San Francisco and been released in early September as the corresponding move for Bailey’s return, that would’ve officially precluded him from participating in the postseason.
The Padres have three catchers on the 40-man roster: Luis Campusano, Kyle Higashioka and Brett Sullivan. Aside from Campusano’s two-week injured list stint shortly before the All-Star Break, he and Higashioka have handled the catching work. Higashioka came over from the Yankees as an ancillary piece in the Juan Soto return. The Padres expected him to back up Campusano, but he has actually been the far more productive player. Higashioka has drilled a career-high 15 home runs in 204 plate appearances. While he’s not getting on base consistently, the power and steady defensive work have made him one of the more productive backup catchers in the league.
Campusano, by contrast, has a subpar .231/.274/.373 batting line and well below-average marks for his glovework. He still has an option remaining, so the Padres could send him down without putting him on waivers. It’s also possible they carry three catchers once active rosters expand to 28 in September.
Díaz was hitting .270/.315/.378 through 327 plate appearances before Colorado released him to get their first look at prospect Drew Romo. Much of that production was driven by an elevated batting average on balls in play at Coors Field. Díaz has solid contact skills and hit 14 homers as recently as last season (not including the All-Star Game homer that earned him the game’s MVP honors). He does a strong job controlling the running game and has improved his pitch framing grades this year.
Excelllenttt, Smithers!
Smart move.
Once again, the Rockies will pay someone to play for another team.
Name one team in the league that does NOT do that.
As and Rays
lt1
“As and Rays”
Wrong
“The Rays officially completed a trade on Saturday that sent Glasnow, outfielder Manuel Margot and $4 million to the Dodgers”
mlb.com/news/tyler-glasnow-manuel-margot-traded-to…
A’s paid Jace Peterson to play for Arizona.
Rays are paying Wander Franco to play for the Dominican Prison League.
Huh
Padres fans do you prefer him over higashioka or campusano and if Diaz sticks on the roster then who becomes the odd man out
Campusano. Díaz is far better defensively.
Let’s not be mistaken- Diaz is excellent Minor League depth.
* Break glass in case of emergency *
Guy was an MVP at last years ASG.
…and a far better player now than Kris Bryant is. Please take him, too.
Doubt he signed without a guarantee of a promotion at some point if he turned down San Fran.
Might as well carry all three for September with expanded rosters. If the pitching staff is comfortable with Diaz and he’s hitting better than Campusano at the end of the year, then you go with Diaz for the playoffs. If it’s a close call though the edge may go to Camp since he’s been working with these pitchers much longer.
Hmmm… not a bad call. Maybe they do carry 3 and have a mini-comp in the meantime.
That’s what I think will happen, 3 catchers when rosters expand. Smart move.
Will they carry 3 catchers or extra pitchers in the pen? I think they only get 2 extra players now.
Only one of the two extra guys can be a pitcher.
Though I don’t think they will carry 3 catchers. Keeping Johnson on the team to pitch run or sub late in games defensively for profar once tatis is back. Makes more sense then keeping campy up who can’t really do anything.
Johnson is gone when tatis returns
I would think that McCoy is gone when Kim returns as well. That begs the question do they bring up someone like Ornelas or Rosario instead of a 3rd catcher?
I think the bench will be…
Peralta
Wade
Campy or Diaz
Johnson
Solano
The reason Johnson stays is because of his defense and speed. Same with Wade. Peralta and solano will be the main bats off the bench. Perhaps McCoy stays instead of Wade. Though Wade has been in the team the entire year so I suspect he will get the nod.
That is a possibility. The Padres will have Tatis for defense and speed, so thinking Johnson heads down to AAA.
Wade has more positional flexibility and has no options, so would have to be DFA’d. Makes McCoy more likely to be sent down.
Campusano has caught the staff all season and has the lower CERA overall and lower pitcher ERA head to head so not likely he is sent down. That would hurt the pitching staff. Preller and Shildt have both said that game calling and defense is more important than hitting for Padres catchers. I am sure that Diaz will get at least a look down the stretch if for no other reason than the rest Higgy and Campy.
With Tatis, Kim, Darvish and probably Waldron coming back in the next few weeks its going to be interesting to see how the roster works out for the stretch and the playoffs. A GOOD kind of interesting.
seems to be a serviceable catcher w a decent bat. wonder why a last place team would dump him?
To let him pursue an opportunity with a contender instead of wasting away for the last two months + give Drew Romo regular time in the bigs
Rockies gotta Rockie
Was going to be a free agent, and the Rockies wanted to take a look at up-and-coming Drew Romo and get him ready to be the 2025 starter. Also not impossible that Diaz asked for a chance to move to a contender.
You guys are right, I was tempted by the low-hanging fruit!
Romo is a decent overall player. He had an .837 OPS in Albuquerque. Compare that to his team’s .833 OPS and the PCL average of .803. An average or slightly above average hitter in AAA that plays good defense at catcher.
What facts support that?
His idiocy.
blakestreet, who are you addressing?
My question was for SlapHitting. I’m perplexed why he thinks that Drew Romo is a AAAA player, after having fewer than 20 AB or so in in MLB, so far. Way too soon to draw any conclusions about Romo.
Not relevant. Romo is in the Majors. Maybe he’ll last, maybe he won’t. Time will tell.
Pads Fans pointed out how it was still an above average OPS compared to his team and league… plus he is regarded as very good defensively
Dumas the Beta, that is why I posted what his TEAM OPS and LEAGUE OPS are. He is an AVERAGE hitter on his team and ABOVE AVERAGE in the league and he plays a position where DEFENSE matters more than offense and he is very good on defense.
At least learn a TINY bit about baseball before foisting your lack of knowledge on the rest of us.
Dumas the Beta, only a complete idiot would think that you don’t compare how good a player is to his peers, meaning the guys that play in the same home park environment and in their league.
Romo’s 21.3% chase rate in AAA is far below the 28.2% league average. Meaning he is much, much better than the average AAA player at that particular skill.
His 17.8% SO rate is far better than the 22.7% PCL average. His 60.5% chase contact rate is far higher than the league average of 56.1%. so even when he does chase, he makes contact.
All of that, meaning being a BETTER hitter than the average at that level, and he is a catcher who isn’t expected to be as good of a hitter as other position players.
Please go actually learn something about the game. Or at least learn how to look up the actual numbers. That way you won’t be constantly be getting dragged.
You won’t be here at the season’s end. In fact, for me you won’t be here at DAY’s end.
They’re idiots
Elias is so good he opened his own Sports Bureau.
I thought he had a better chance for regular playing time with the giants, especially next year. Bailey and the giants need a good backup to keep him fresh. Oh well
He is a FA so next year he can go wherever he wants if he is willing to take a 1 year deal.
You do realize players resign with teams right? They don’t have a starting catcher currently.
Nice depth pickup. For basically nothing.
Sounds to me like they’re about ready to cut bait with Campusano. Been a fan of Campy’s for years, but his catching this year’s been atrocious.
Why? Campy will be in Peoria – where will Diaz be? He is a FA guys. This is a 30 gam depth piece and maybe a 3rd catcher for September. Nothing else.
I don’t think they will release campy but there is a good chance campy gets sent down
This year. He has been bad at just about everything.
Simm – he hasn’t been that bad. Maybe not what he had projected. He has had some hot streaks early on even. Pitchers seem to like working with him. 9/1, who at AAA would you call up while sending Campy down?
Diaz was signed with every intention of being the 9/1 call up.
Also insurance against injury to Higgynor Campy because Sullivan isn’t the answer.
First of all you have no idea why Diaz was signed.
It’s possible that he could be insurance that plays out the season in the minors.
It could be they go to 3 catchers sept 1. Gives them the option to pinch hit for their catchers.
Or it could be to replace campy as the backup catcher.
Yes Long- he has been that bad. He is the second or worse defensive catcher in baseball. Plus he isn’t hitting for power, avg or walking for that matter.
As far as who would I call up 9/1, that depends on when tatis will be back. If he is back 9/1 then nobody.
Bench 9/1 if tatis and Kim are back by then should be.
Solano, Peralta, Johnson, Wade or McCoy, campy or Diaz….though they could keep Diaz and campy and pinch hit for them late in games. Which would mean Johnson is gone.
Johnson will go for a Tatis; McCoy for Kim. Diaz as 3rd.
Wade still fills the late runner need and with Tatis back, really don’t need a defensive replacement.
I’ll give you another reason – maybe to keep the Dodgers from signing him?
Team disruption should be avoided in Sept in a pennant chase and catcher is a chemistry role.
I may not “know” the reason and I’m good with there being multiple reasons but I’m very confident dumping Campy is not 1 of them.
We will know that answer soon enough. As insurance and 3rd catcher, it might be possible to see that he builds chemistry with 1 or 2 SP, maybe he does hit better than Campy when given a chance and that may lead to taking the spot in October of the backup but not this week.
Unless an injury, he probably catches a few games.
How was the game yesterday LT? !!!
Great game. A little going back and forth early on. Waaay hot and humid in the Midwest.
Beards rule!
Beard on. Cease off
Maybe Cro’s peach fuzz counts as a beard!
Farhan screwed this one. Diaz reportedly wanted to stay after Bailey came back and we wouldn’t commit to that.
What .500 team is too stacked for this guy?
The Giants?
You are right. You can only comment if you have solutions to on how to make a .500 team playoff bound
Clown comment something people that betas say
Our current backup catcher is curt casali. He is batting 200 and cannot throw to 2nd or 3rd.
Do I need to explain the value or do you need a nap?
That was the joke. Surprised you have to reply between classes
Not confused. Stay in school
The joke is you. The joke is that you think all comments must be about how to get a .500 team to playoffs
The joke is about you thinking you can control what other people say
The joke is you.
This is a good move for the padres. Campusano has been a big disappointment this year offensively and defensively.
My guess is we will see Diaz up replacing campy before long.
Simm, you want a new catcher working with the staff in September? Sitting Campy when the staff is familiar with him?
Sure Diaz will play some but he is insurance man. Come on.
Diaz is a veteran he will be able to handle it. With pitch com it’s not as big of a deal as it used to be.
Diaz is an upgrade over campy in just about every measurable area.
Diaz will need to show some improvement at the plate before they replace Campy. Diaz dismal last two months are why CO dumped him.
Brew my point exactly. Simm is too 2023 on Diaz.
A month ago apparently, no team wanted him bad enough to trade for him. Even if Colorado had high expectations (I don’t think so), no one claimed him either. I think Colorado would have taken anything to dump salary a month ago. Since that trade didn’t go down, I have to believe that teams wanted Colorado to kick in money or a prospect. That speaks loads to how unwanted he was. No, I don’t “know” this (for SIMM’s benefit) but to be fair, what other reason for no trade coming together at deadline?
The league has spoken 2 times! I don’t mind him at all for insurance for an injury though.
Campy has been a disappointment, but I don’t see the club giving up on him for Diaz just yet. If Diaz can get out of his prolonged funk and Campy continues his hitting woes, who knows…
I can see Diaz getting the nod for post season if he does well with his chances and if Campy continues to not hit.
With Higgy a FA, we know Campy is going to be in Peoria given a chance at starter (again). With Salas hoped for 26, no way they sign anyone other than a 1 year deal.
Higgy has earned at least a 3 years deal so he is gone.
Yeah, this is not the time to give up on Camp. Wooo pulled out another win tonight, Croney with a big hit
It’s less about Diaz on offense and more about how bad campy is on defense. He is absolutely horrible.
Simm, I have no problem sayjng Diaz is better defensively. I do have a problem with pitcher relationships which Campy has on his side.
From reality standpoint, with 28 games remaining, Higgy will likely catch at least 20 of them.
I don’t see the diaz improvement on defense for 8 games or so being worth the changes.
Then there is the fact that backup catchers aren’t used much in post season.
Again, insurance against injury or the 3rd catcher options is worth the signing.
All fair points, I think I’m less concerned about the relationship with the pitchers mainly because of pitch com.
That and pitcher’s like better catchers defensively. Watching campy he seems to be getting worse instead of better.
He sure isn’t showing improvement that’s for sure. Unfortunately, as things go now, he is our projected starting catcher in 2025 so until someone gets added, can’t mess up his head.
I hope they can find another Higgy or Sanchez for 1 year while waiting for Salas. Preller has done a great job at the C spot the past 2 years and hasn’t really received any love on this site for doing so.
Anymore cast off Yankee catchers looking to bounce back in 25?
I feel certain he will add to the group. I don’t feel certain campy will be even back next year.
The most frustrating thing about campy is he was really hitting in 2023 and totally revamped his swing to something crazy. Could live with his terrible defense if he hit well.
If you can’t hit, run or field…your days are numbered.
If they do bring up Diaz I could see at least one of higgy or Diaz returning next year. Salas is prob 2 years away at this point. Heck maybe even longer.
I don’t want Diaz as primary but would take Higgy on a 2 year deal to avoid rushing Salas.
Diaz isn’t that great defensively to overcome his offense and at 34 or 35 can’t be expected to get better.
I wouldn’t bet on Campy being there or not being there with Preller this off-season. I would say he is more likely to be there as opposed to an aging Diaz or a Higgy who is likely looking to cash in on a long term 3/4 year deal beyond SD’s needs due to Salas in the wings. If the market only gives Higgy 2 years then bring him back for sure.
You should listen to Shildt then. He seems to think that Campy will be the catcher for the future. He keeps praising him for how he handles the staff, the absolute most important thing a catcher does.
Shildt praises everyone, it’s what he does.
Campy’s defense is just bad and there is no defending it. You seemed hell bent on defending him. If you looked at it from a different angle you could post a whole lot of reason why campy isn’t good at all.
You seem stuck on offensive production. I don’t expect anything much offensively from either guy.
So that defense you are talking about it consists of what? Throwing out runners? That happens how often?
Blocking balls in the dirt? He is the same as Higgy at that.
So what exactly is the most important skill for a catcher? What contributes more to wins and losses than anything else they do?
A: How they work with the staff and call a game.
Guess who is the best on the Padres at that skill as measured by CERA and head-head pitcher ERA?
Diaz will be a good insurance policy. He might even get to catch a game or two down the stretch. But he is a free agent at the end of the season and he won’t be taking the place of the only catcher who is guaranteed to be back next season.
I’m not sure how healthy Campy is, he was out a while with that injury and hasn’t looked too good since returning. His grace period is definitely nearing an end. I know Shildt likes him but AJ is what matters. At least they have an exit plan for him that isn’t costly (like some of the big contract guys that have been under performing). Barring injury, and assuming SD gets into playoffs (seems likely), I doubt Campy starts any playoff games and mainly due to defense.
Simm – quite the opposite. I have acknowledged Campy’s defense isn’t preferred. I’m also acknowledging until he is traded, he is projected to be the only current catcher on the roster when ST starts.
I’ve also acknowledged that he (or Diaz) wont start in post season so that is irrelevant.
My defense of Campy is only that logically, he is entrenched and has established himself with staff and is under contract for 2025 while Diaz is: (1) 10 years older; (2) not under contract; (3) is no better offensively; (4) has not been with team all year; (5) and no other team seemed to think enough of Diaz to claim or trade for him; and as a result is likely to cause SD to dump Campy for Diaz at this juncture.
That is the sum total of my points. If anything, my “defense” of Campy is not that but it is a justification for not dumping him now for Diaz as there is just no reason to do it.
The gain (as defined by no other team even wanting him) is not with the risk.
What matters most is if the pitching staff likes him. He hit .267 in June-July before the injury, so we know the hitting is there. He has been beat up this season, so you are probably right about him not being 100%.
Neither Diaz nor Higgy are exit plans for Campusano. Both are FA at the end of the season.
Barring injury, I am quite sure that Diaz does not start any playoff games because of a lack of knowledge of the pitching staff.
I never suggested Diaz or Higgy as exit plans for Campy. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they looked at the FA C market this offseason or worked a trade. But that would all be moot if Campy performs to what AJ feel is needed in a starting C.
“At least they have an exit plan for him that isn’t costly (like some of the big contract guys that have been under performing).”
At this point the Padres have Campusano coming back next season as the starter with hopefully Higgy there to be the veteran backup/other starter. Even though he has been hurt and struggling at the plate, Campusano has only started 4 fewer games than Higgy in August.
Diaz has hit .196/.250/.268/.518 in the 2nd half. Same BA Since July 1st. I am too lazy to do calculations for rest right now, but he has zero HR and just 3 BB so not much different if at all.
see my comment about saying the same thing about Diaz since he returned from his injury. If he’s going to see time on the 2024 squad, it would either be and injury to Higgy or Campy, or if Campy performs so badly and Diaz kills it at El Paso. The later is very unlikely to happen. Diaz is depth piece, and good one and a cheap one.
Brew – not you. Ron Darling (early post) was the one starting the “cut bait on Campy” comment to which I replied no way that makes sense and then that transformed into Simm telling me how bad Campy and I didn’t know anything if I thought Campy was so great…. Which then morphed into my reply a few hours ago.
Like you say, I also stated clearly they I believed Diaz was a good minor league signing and should be the 9/1 Callie for insurance / 3-4 starts.
I have not bashed Diaz and I have not “defended / praised” Campy – I’m just saying no way Diaz is a basis for dumping Campy.
I was responding to Pads Fan LT, not you!
Cool – I don’t see him anymore.
I need to get better at using the @
And I’m on my phone so hard to tell sometimes.
Have a great Labor day weekend
Interestingly enough, Diaz has started 2 of 3 games in El Paso at DH and will start tonight’s game at DH as well.
Maybe the Padres intend on bringing him up just to DH and provide an emergency catcher. He does have good power when hitting.
Elias Diaz is an outstanding catcher. I just hope he can jell with the pitching staff.
I agree that Diaz is an outstanding catcher. I wish him all the very best, and hope he gets to play in the playoffs this year.
Garry and Blake –
Pick a stat that you like and no, he is not an “outstanding catcher”.
A fair insurance policy for no cost is what he is.
As “outstanding” as he is supposedly is, why didn’t a team trade for him or claim him?
Watch him catch and then use your judgment if you have the ability or even can do that.
Garry – thank you. Do you want me to relay that message to all of the GM’s and their professional scouts they passed on him?
I mean, a minor league deal man – come on give it up. Likely 9/1 call up but still – minor league deal.
I’ll have to watch AAA games to catch a glimpse!
Yeah, go ahead.
Perhaps this entire exercise helps you recognize that your opinion is irrelevant.
Probably won’t get a chance. He is not catching for AAA El Paso tonight and only has caught in 1 of his 3 games there so far.
Is he injured?