Lewin

Diaz

Diaz recorded some eye-popping numbers this past season, batting .348/.419/.610 with 26 round-trippers in 104 games between a stint in Korea and a pair of clubs in the independent Mexican League. The 28-year-old first baseman got into 112 games for the Marlins from 2020-2022, posting a lackluster .567 OPS with 13 homers during that span.

Díaz was in Nationals camp this spring as a non-roster invitee before being reassigned to the minors earlier this month. He’s back on the open market to pursue a new opportunity somewhere else.

Rutledge, 24, made four starts for the Nationals during the 2023 season, registering a 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 12/6 K/BB ratio across 20 innings of work. He was always a longshot to crack the team’s Opening Day roster though. Rutledge posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 7/5 K/BB ratio over seven innings during Grapefruit League play.

The 27-year-old has 343 career plate appearances at the big-league level. He’s yet to shine with his bat, slashing .181/.227/.340 in those 343 plate appearances, all with the Marlins from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, he spent his time at Triple-A Norfolk (Orioles organization) and popped 17 home runs while slashing .268/.362/.442.

Díaz had a chance to earn a reserve role on the team’s Opening Day roster, but has missed the past week of action due to left shoulder soreness. With how well Franchy Cordero has hit during the spring, there simply wasn’t room to carry both of them. He’ll bide his time at Triple-A until he’s called upon.

The odds of Díaz making the Orioles’ season-opening roster are pretty narrow considering how well Franchy Cordero has hit this spring and his continued absence doesn’t help matters either. The 26-year-old first baseman will most likely open the regular season back at Triple-A Norfolk.

Diaz scratched from Tuesday’s lineup after he felt some inflammation in his left shoulder while taking some swings, but he said Thursday that it’s “nothing too serious.” He hopes to return to game action within the next couple of days.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that he isn’t concerned about it being a long-term issue after Díaz was scratched from the Orioles’ lineup for Tuesday’s spring training contest. The 26-year-old first baseman is batting .250 (5-for-20) with a homer and five RBI this spring.

No word yet on the reason for the change. Díaz finally landed with the Orioles after a whirlwind offseason that included stints in multiple organizations.

Díaz bounced around many teams this offseason but landed with the Orioles after going unclaimed in early January. The 26-year-old has always shown power and should serve as first base depth for the rebuilding Orioles squad.