Aledmys

Diaz

The Astros needed to free up a spot on their active and 40-man roster for the promotion of Shay Whitcomb on Friday, and they accomplished both by releasing Diaz. The 34-year-old infielder appeared in just two games for the Astros this time around, going hitless in four at-bats.

Díaz never actually played for Sugar Land. Instead, he’s back in the majors after just four games in Rookie ball in which he went 5-for-15. Díaz hit .255/.313/.424 in 262 games for the Astros from 2019-22, but he came in at just .216/.268/.317 in 121 games for the A’s the last two years. The Astros figure to give him the occasional start against left-handed pitching, but they shouldn’t have an extensive role for him.

No real shocker here as Díaz winds up back with Houston just a couple weeks after being released by the Athletics. The 33-year-old infielder was a versatile fixture in the Astros’ title-contending runs from 2019 through 2022. There’s probably zero fantasy impact at this advanced stage of his career, but he’s a reliable bench option for Houston moving forward.

The 33-year-old infielder had been designated for assignment earlier in the week and predictably passed through waivers unclaimed. He’s now free to explore employment opportunities elsewhere if he so chooses. Díaz hit a paltry .103/.133/.103 in 29 at-bats with the Athletics this season.

Díaz has been jettisoned from Oakland’s roster to make room for younger players to come up and get an opportunity moving forward. The 33-year-old veteran infielder signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal prior to last year and finishes his tenure in Oakland with a disastrous .585 OPS with four homers and one steal in 374 plate appearances over 121 games.

The A’s got ridiculously lucky that someone took Jace Peterson off their hands last summer, so they’ll keep giving Díaz the occasional start in the hopes that lightning will strike twice. The 33-year-old Díaz is 3-for-27 since returning from a calf injury on May 28. He hit .229/.280/.337 last year in the first season of a two-year, $14.5 million contract.

This is technically the first off day that Gelof has had this year, not including when he hasn’t been available due to injury. He’ll take a break with Aledmys Diaz getting the start at second base.

Díaz will have a chance to play after missing the first two months of the season with a calf strain. The 33-year-old returns for Oakland, and Tyler Nevin was designated for assignment to make room for him on the active and 40-man roster.

Díaz has resumed baseball activities, but hasn’t progressed to running yet, after landing on the injured list last week with a calf strain. He figures to be ready to make his season debut later this month.

Díaz has been on the shelf pretty much all of spring training due to a groin strain and then a calf strain. The 33-year-old veteran simply won’t have enough time to ramp up once he’s cleared to begin working out, so he’ll presumably open the season on the injured list.