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From Scout.com:
The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Matt Diaz from the Kansas City Royals for minor league pitcher Rico Rodriguez.
Here is his Baseball Reference page. I am not sure what this trade is about. I thought we had a glut of young outfielders. Can someone throw some light on this for me?
Good question. Diaz is not even young, but at least he is inexperienced. The good news was that he did cost much either…
Interesting. I’ve never heard of him. He has absolutely killed AAA pitching, although at times being a bit old for his level (YOB 1978)- 341/386/ 577 in 1000+ AB’s, but has never really gotten much of a look at the ML level. He definitely has what they call “upside”.
From the good posters over at Baseball Primer, the word is almost uniformly positive – here are some snips from the discussion when he was DFA’d this week
There’s nothing wrong with Diaz, look at who released him.
Actually, I don’t blame Tampa for letting him go, given how stacked they are in the outfield.
Allard on the other hand…
If Diaz got a chance he’d be Kevin Millar + some defense, a lot like Craig Wilson. He’s not great in the outfield, but he wouldn’t hurt you playing in left. Obviously he can play first, and supposedly can catch too.
His character has nothing to do with his release either. He’s super-religious, his mother is a popular christian author, and I believe his dad is a minister. He said he signed with KC last year because they were honest with him and told him he’d start in AAA, whereas other teams were promising he’d be in the majors when they obviously didn’t have room for him.
Shitty move for him to be DFA’d, especially since all the roster crunch in KC is due to Allard bringing up (then quickly sending down) a bunch of 19 year olds from AA.
and the opposing view
Matt Diaz=Ken Harvey with patience.
Check that. Matt Diaz walked 12 times in 260 ABs in Omaha last year. He’s Ken Harvey good twin brother.
He’s also Mike Sweeney with a glove.
Nice bench player/part time DH, but nothing more
Here’s the whole thread.