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The Mariners have re-signed lefty to a minor league contract, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Hes already in camp and will be a non-roster invitee this spring. Diaz was designated for a signment earlier this month. The Dennis Rodman Jersey Ms ultimately placed him on waivers, and the southpaw rejected an outright a signment in favor of free agency upon going unclaimed. Hes now back with the Mariners to vie for a job in camp or, likelier, to head to Triple-A Tacoma as a depth option early in the event of injuries in the big league rotation. The 28-year-old Diaz has pitched in parts of four big league seasons from 2021-23 with the Angels and with the Mariners in 2024. Hes totaled 45 MLB frames and carries a pedestrian 4.80 earned run average in that time. The soft-to ser has fanned just 15% of his big league opponents against an unsightly 12.6% walk rate, though his 45.7% ground-ball rate and 0.80 HR/9 mark are both solid. While the Mariners didnt need to lean on in-house rotation depth much in 2024 thanks to good health from , , , and (to a le ser extent) , Diaz still provided them a decent option in the upper minors. He started 22 games in Triple-A Tacoma and tallied 117 2/3 innings with a 4.36 ERA there. Diazs strikeout and walk rates in the majors have been ugly, but he whiffed 22.9% of his opponents in Tacoma last year against a 9.9% walk rate. Thats a roughly average strikeout rate and a still worse-than-average walk rate, but both are a far sight better than his MLB rates. Diaz probably wont be the first man up in the event of a rotation injury. Former No. 6 overall pick was the most frequently called upon reserve last year, and Seattle added righty to the 40-man roster earlier this winter. Top prospect and journeyman are also non-roster invitees this spring and could land in the Tacoma rotation to begin the year. Diaz will be in the mix though, especially if the Mariners at any point find themselves in need of multiple starters. Sean Elliott Jersey |
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