On Friday, the Colorado Rockies decided to release 2023 All-Star Game MVP catcher Elias Díaz. After catcher Drew Romo was promoted to the big leagues, the Rockies decided it would be best to cut Díaz. This gives him a chance to play for a contender. While this move is an honorable one by Colorado, it was also a little senseless. There’s no doubt many teams would have paid a decent package to acquire the All-Star catcher. Why didn’t the Rockies trade the 33-year-old catcher at the MLB trade deadline on July 30th? It seems a bit silly to release one of the best defensive backstops of this season and a guy who’s held it down in the lineup for the past few years. Now a free agent, Diaz could have an opportunity to actually play for a winning ball club and head deep into the postseason.
The Rockies announced the following moves today:
– Selected the contract of C Drew Romo (#3) from Triple-A Albuquerque.
– Reinstated LHP Lucas Gilbreath from the 60-day injured list (recovery from left elbow surgery).
– Unconditionally released catcher Elias Díaz.— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) August 16, 2024
The Rockies Should Have Traded Instead Of Released Elias Díaz
While it may be too late to be in line for the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Rockies have been the worst team in the National League over the past two seasons. However, the team didn’t start their rebuilding process until this season, as they are looking to go younger and have valuable prospects. Colorado has released guys like Díaz, Elehuris Montero, and Dakota Hudson, and you have to assume by the end of the season, the Rockies will find a way to move on from Kris Bryant. The Rockies should have traded away Díaz to get some younger prospects back in the process. They should have gotten some sort of value back in exchange for the 2023 All-Star Game MVP. Ultimately, this would have helped the franchise in the long haul. It’s never a bad thing when your team has too much talent.
The success of the Rockies will derive from the moves they make now. If they can make smart, precise moves, they can build towards a better future. Time will only tell if this was the right decision. Yet, the team should have done something instead of nothing over the past month. It will be interesting to see where Díaz ends up for the remainder of the 2024 season, and if Romo can be the catcher the Rockies need for a sustainable future.
Díaz’s 2024 Regular Season Stats
Díaz played in 84 games with the Rockies this season. In 304 at-bats, he recorded 82 hits, five home runs, and 36 runs batted in. He had a slash line of .270/.315/.378. During his five seasons in Colorado, the 33-year-old catcher never appeared in the postseason. As a matter of fact, during Díaz’s 10-year career, he has never experienced playing postseason baseball. That could all change this season if he chooses the right franchise to sign with next. In his final game in a Rockies uniform, he recorded zero hits in four at-bats during a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s a disappointing end for Díaz in Colorado. Nonetheless, the team should have traded him well over a month ago.
Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
