Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Continues battle with Allen
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Although Diaz continues in a heated competition with Nick Allen for the starting shortstop role, the veteran's ability to play multiple positions should help him garner a near-everyday role irrespective of how the job battle shakes out, Steve Stockmar of MLB.com reports. "You could see Diaz at shortstop. That's kind of been a trend this Spring Training. That's not set in stone," manager Mark Kotsay said. "Aledmys can play in left, we have the opportunity to DH as well. So there's a ton of combinations that we can put together that we feel good about."
Diaz inked a two-year, $14.5 million deal this offseason, and he's wasted no time validating the investment with a strong spring that includes a .357 average across 33 Cactus League plate appearances. Diaz's career .266 average, .763 OPS and modest 14.7 percent strikeout rate should afford him plenty of job security regardless of whether Allen is declared the victor of their competition, considering Diaz's defensive versatility and the fact Kotsay has emphasized he'll be prioritizing offense this season after Oakland's struggles scoring runs throughout 2022.
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Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Strong numbers this spring
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Diaz is hitting .385 (10-for-26) with a double, four RBI, four walks and two runs across 10 Cactus League games.
Diaz's performance at the plate is a welcome sight after the Athletics committed $14.5 million to him through 2024 this offseason. The versatile infielder is one of several veteran signings by an Athletics team in transition, and he should serve as a decent source of power numbers as he fills in across the infield and at designated hitter during the upcoming campaign.
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Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Deal with A's announced
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Diaz's two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Athletics was formally announced by the team Tuesday.
Diaz can play all over the field and he should have no trouble finding regular at-bats on Oakland's barren roster. He could hold some deep-league appeal.
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Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Finds work in Oakland
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Diaz and the Athletics agreed Wednesday on a two-year, $14.5 million contract, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The terms of Diaz's contract suggests that the Athletics likely envision him serving as a fixture in the lineup in 2023, after he largely served as a utility man in Houston over the past four seasons. He was a near-league-average hitter this past season, slashing .243/.287/.403 (96 wRC+) with 12 home runs, one stolen base, 38 RBI and 35 runs in 327 plate appearances. Diaz made at least five starts at every infield position as well as left field, but it's unclear where Oakland initially intends to use him primarily in 2023.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Not starting Game 5
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Diaz is out of the lineup for Game 5 of the World Series against the Phillies on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz started Games 2 and 4 and has gone 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the series. Yordan Alvarez will man left field while David Hensley serves as the designated hitter.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Collects three hits
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Diaz went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored Sunday against the Orioles.
Diaz has started eight of 13 games since returning from the injured list Sept. 13. He hasn't had a consistent defensive home but has picked up starts at left field and every infield position besides catcher and first base. In those 13 games, Diaz has managed a .281 average with two homers, six RBI and four runs scored, and he could continue to get regular playing time to close the campaign.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Drives in pair
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Diaz went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Rays.
Diaz opened the scoring for Houston with an RBI single in the opening frame, and he added another run-scoring knock in the eighth inning. Though he doesn't have a consistent defensive home, Diaz has started five of nine games since being activated from the injured list Sept. 13. In that span, he's hit .333 with two homers, six RBI and three runs scored.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Smacks 11th homer
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Diaz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Thursday against the Athletics.
Diaz entered the lineup with Jose Altuve getting a day of rest, though he doesn't project to have a consistent spot in the lineup for the final few weeks of the season. Nevertheless, Diaz provided the game-winning runs Thursday by hitting his 11th home run of the campaign in the seventh frame. He has drawn two starts since being activated from the injured list Sep. 13, and he's gone 3-for-7 in that limited sample. For the campaign, Diaz has a .256/.306/.419 slash line across 278 plate appearances.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Two hits in return
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Diaz (groin) went 2-for-4 in a 6-3 win Tuesday in Detroit.
Diaz was activated from the injured list before Tuesday's game after missing 23 games. Batting seventh and serving as the designated hitter, he singled in the fourth and seventh innings. It's unlikely that he'll see much time at DH down the stretch, as both Yordan Alvarez and Trey Mancini are better suited for that role and Diaz can play numerous positions.
Diaz (groin) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is starting at designated hitter while batting seventh Tuesday against the Tigers.
He will end up missing four weeks with the groin injury. Diaz had settled into a prominent role prior to the injury, hitting .297/.329/.541 with four home runs in 21 second-half games. However, now that Trey Mancini has settled into a semi-regular role, Diaz may occupy a utility role over the rest of the season.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Targeting Tuesday return
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Manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that he hopes Diaz (groin) will be able to return Tuesday against the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He'll appear in rehab games Saturday and Sunday and is expected to get a day to rest prior to joining the Astros in Detroit on Tuesday.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Cleared for rehab assignment
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Diaz (groin) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
He'll presumably stick with Sugar Land through the weekend and get exposure to a few different positions before the Astros potentially activate him from the 10-day injured list early next week. Prior to being shut down with the left groin injury, Diaz had been serving as Houston's primary starter in left field, but it's unclear if he'll immediately recapture a regular role once reinstated. Trey Mancini would represent Diaz's top threat for playing time.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Runs on field
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Diaz (groin) ran and went through lateral movement drills prior to Saturday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz hasn't played since mid-August, but he's taking steps in the right direction. He's expected to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, Rome reports.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Facing multi-week absence
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Astros general manager James Click said Sunday that he expects Diaz (groin) to miss "a few weeks," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Click's comments would seem to imply that Diaz, who was placed on the 10-day injured list last Wednesday, won't be ready to go when first eligible to rejoin the Astros this weekend. While Diaz is on the shelf, Yordan Alvarez is expected to pick up more work in left field, which will open up more frequent starts at designated hitter for trade-deadline pickup Trey Mancini.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Placed on injured list
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Diaz (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz was removed from Tuesday's matchup due to left groin discomfort and will be unavailable for at least a week and a half. Yordan Alvarez is starting in left field while Trey Mancini serves as the designated hitter Wednesday against the White Sox, and J.J. Matijevic was called up by the Astros to provide additional outfield depth in Diaz's absence.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: May miss time
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Manager Dusty Baker said after Tuesday's loss to the White Sox that Diaz is "probably not available" for the rest of the Astros' current road trip, which runs through Sunday in Atlanta, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The utility man could be headed to the injured list if Baker is right, though Diaz himself hopes it's just tightness and that he'll feel better Wednesday. The 32-year-old at least seems likely to be unavailable for the remaining two games in Chicago.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Lifted with groin issue
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Diaz was removed from Tuesday's game against the White Sox due to left groin discomfort, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz went 0-for-2 before exiting Tuesday's contest during the fourth inning. The 32-year-old has been playing more outfield with Michael Brantley (shoulder) sidelined, and he suffered the injury while making a catch in left field. Chas McCormick is likely to see increased playing time if Diaz is forced to miss any time.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Diaz is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Oakland.
Diaz has an .806 OPS in August but will sit for the second consecutive game Sunday. The 32-year-old may not be an everyday player down the stretch, but he should still see regular action, especially in left field, with Michael Brantley (shoulder) out for the season. Chas McCormick will start in left and bat seventh in the series finale versus the A's.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Out of lineup
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Diaz will sit Saturday against Oakland, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz should continue to play frequently in left field down the stretch after Michael Brantley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Trey Mancini will occupy that spot Saturday.
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Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Sitting Wednesday
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Diaz is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.
Diaz will get a day off after he went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Tuesday's win. Chas McCormick will take over in left field and bat seventh versus Texas.
