Elias Diaz
Just as recently as this past offseason, Diaz was untouchable and that very well could still be the case.
But should it be?
Diaz, who just made his first career start behind the plate on Sunday, is a chip Huntington should have in play if he is looking to bring in a bigger acquisition at the deadline. The reasoning is simple. Other teams value Diaz. He is 25 and he is blocked for the foreseeable future.
The three-year, $31 million contract extension the Pirates gave to Francisco Cervelli in May all but assures he will be the Pirates starting catcher until 2019. With Chris Stewart also signed through next season, there is no place for Diaz on the roster.
Throw in the fact that Diaz is also four years older than former first-round pick Reese McGuire and he instantly becomes a chip that Huntington should look to cash in on at the deadline.
Diaz will be 28 when Cervelli’s deal expires. By that time, you would expect McGuire to be ready.
If the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to bolster their rotation with a bigger named starter, including Diaz in a deal might be the key to getting a deal done.
We will next look at a couple of surprising Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospects.
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