PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Identifying the need at the start of the offseason, the Pirates added another first baseman to compete at training camp, which is just three months away.
According to several reports the Bucs claimed first-baseman Lewin Diaz off waivers from the Marlins.
Not exactly the fixed-the-problem option.
In 112 Major League games, the left-hand hitter has a .181 average, .227 on-base percentage, .340 slugging and .567 OPS. He's struck out 99 times to 19 walks, which in today's game isn't as bad as it once was. Last season he played in 58 games with four doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI and a .169 average.
Hunting for the positives, Diaz just turned 26-years-old on November 19. The Dominican Republic Native did hit eight home runs in 122 at bats with the Marlins in 2021. Last season in AAA, he hit 19 doubles and 19 home runs with a .252 batting average and .816 OPS in 82 games. Diaz has never made an error at first base in 742 chances. He's 6'4", 217 pounds and won't be a free agent until 2028. He won't be arbitration eligible until 2025.
Earlier this month the Pirates traded a minor-league pitcher for 1B Ji-Man Choi from the Rays.
