I don't talk to people about particular players in the minors usually more than a handful of times a year, but the last I heard about Diaz the Astros hadn't given up on him catching part time and possibly full time, but were going to let his bat decide where he would end up (i.e. not hold him back because of issues handling and preparing for games as a catcher). He has played a fair amount of 1st and catcher this year. At 1st he has made the plays he is supposed to make this year, has soft hands and can field the position smoothly. He isn't terribly tall but does have a strong arm at 1st. I still hope he can mature and handle catching duties but I understand their position that they are not going to wait on that.
For now I think there are 6 prospects in Houston’s system who project to be everyday-quality position players: Pedro Leon Korey Lee Colin Barber Yainer Diaz Enmanuel Valdez JJ Matijevic Wilyer Abreu is on the fringes of that group. None of those guys currently project as stars.
Maton and Diaz for Straw - didn’t like the trade at the time but now I do especially if Jake come back
If you have 6 league average type position players in the minor leagues at any one point in time that’s plenty good enough as far as a farm system goes, imo. If you don’t have black holes, you have average players you don’t pay much waiting in the wings, and are a larger market like Houston that should be a recipie for basically unbroken playoff string with 6 playoff spots per league now.
Yes I agree. If you’re getting 8-12 war from those spots and have Alvarez-Pena contribute 7-10 war plus a deep bench (which they should also be able to stock considering their 2nd/3rd tier prospects), that’s a fringe playoff team roster without spending anything beyond Yordan’s team-friendly extension.
I feel like Diaz is prime trade bait for the Astros. Look everyone we have a catcher that can hit .300 with power!!! Meanwhile, we are reminded on a daily basis how much they value defense and working with pitchers over hitting at the catcher position....
Diaz has a caught stealing rate of 33% for the 2nd season in a row, so that part of his game is not bad at all. In rookie and low A, he was even throwing out 44%.
I note also that he grades out really well in Davenport's projections at C (+15 rating in his career) and okay at 1B (+1 rating in his career). Would guess SBs and PBs are the main two inputs so he must be doing well at least in those areas.
Corresponding with Diaz being promoted to AAA, Cesar Salazar and Alex McKenna were moved down to AA. It would not surprise me if McKenna hit really well in Corpus.
He is a very talented baseball player. He is a natural hitter with developing power that sees the ball well and can hit just about anything. He has an accurate arm as a catcher and he is spry behind the plate. The physical tools and mental intelligence is there for him to follow the path of someone like Wilson Contreras (who had the same profile). His problem is that he doesn't have the patience or maturity to develop relationships with his pitchers and chart out games in the way he needs to at the big league level. Some guys mature and figure it out (AJ Pierzienski/Piazza) and others don't. I personally would hold onto him and see what he becomes, but I am not dealing with him on a day to day basis and don't know him personally. I can tell you at some point the Astros went from the perspective of not promoting or rewarding him until his catching improved to taking the position that his bat just is too good and they hope the rest catches up. The situation reminds me some of Carlos Santana.
The Valdez kid is one I'm going to watch. Come Sept who would you think gets called up? I would definitely say Brown.
Down in the complex leagues: Sandro Gaston hit his third homer for the DSL Blue. Juan Santander is currently 2-2 with a homer (1) for the FCL Blue team.
Kind of a silly question but if Diaz bat is so good why not just have the pitching coach call the pitches? I’m sure he could get better at framing and he’s already got a good arm.
Call up needs to be on 40 which complicates things, but he us definitely my pick. Too many games left and changes ( trades?) between now and September to determine the position player ( only 1 of each now) but if he performs in AAA, Yanier Diaz as an impact bat who can catch is intriguing.
Thats my thought bring him up and let Maldy Coach him. He can play 1B aswell so he can actually watch some aswell as get his hits in
I don’t think September callup are going to be much of a thing anymore. But I would expect Brown and Lee would be on the short list of guys that would be in that conversation, although I would not bet on it.
Yeah, a lot of guys would have to come off the 40 man roster for Brown and Lee to be called up. They already need to make 3 moves for Meyers, Jones, and McCullers coming off the 60 day IL. Barring a trade or injury... 3 of Josh James, Bermudez, Blanco, Solomon, Goodrum, and Dillon Thomas need to go. They could 60 day IL Joe Perez if they wanted for one of the moves, It's pretty funny when trade proposals include guys like Solomon who has a legit chance of being cut from the 40 man roster and another team getting him for free.
Plus the new CBA outlines rewards for waiting to call up to prospects at the beginning of the season if the team thinks they might have RoY chances. Lee, Brown, and Leon fit that description.
