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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

MLB.com: Braves acquire outfielder Matt Diaz from Kansas City

The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Matt Diaz from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez. Diaz has been added to the Braves’ 40-man roster.

ATL J-C: Hefty raise offer likely for Giles (RR)

Diaz, who turns 28 in March, batted .371 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs in 65 games last season for the Royals’ Class AAA affiliate in Omaha, and he batted .281—including .370 against lefties—with two triples, a home run and nine RBIs in 89 at-bats in stints with the major league club… Braves general manager John Schuerholz said Diaz played mostly left field. He could be a candidate to be the fourth outfielder or possibly platoon in left, where the Braves used rookies Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson most of last season.

NTNgod Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:22 AM | 38 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: braves, royals

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1. Darren

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:24 AM (#1785663)

Nice trade by the Braves. Diaz will most likely hit well enoguh to be an assett.

2. rb's team is hopeful for the new year! Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:26 AM (#1785665)

I guess I'll take Darren's word for now. I have no idea who either of these people are.

3. NTNgod Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:29 AM (#1785669)

I have no idea who either of these people are.

Matt Diaz == big stathead favorite

4. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:29 AM (#1785670)

I guess I'll take Darren's word for now. I have no idea who either of these people are.

Diaz is the impoverished man's Jonny Gomes. Rodriguez is loved by his mother.

5. Cowboy Popup Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:31 AM (#1785671)

Can Diaz play defense well?

6. NTNgod Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:33 AM (#1785674)

Rodriguez is loved by his mother.

We don't know that for a fact.

It's a cruel world.

7. RP Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:37 AM (#1785681)

how annoying...the Orioles couldn't have grabbed Diaz? They have no imagination at all.

8. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:40 AM (#1785686)

Can Diaz play defense well?

No.

-- MWE

9. Darren

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:51 AM (#1785698)

Somewhere here said they thought Diaz was a decent OF, but everyone else pretty much agrees that he was absolutely terrible (haven't seen him).

10. Tom Poquette Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:52 AM (#1785702)

Ken Harvey's bat, Mike Sweeney's glove.

Any clues on this Rodriquez kid?

11. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:53 AM (#1785704)

Can Diaz play defense well?

He's a better defender in left than Chipper.

No, that's not a compliment.

12. Brian

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:59 AM (#1785713)

what goes through your mind if your Allard Baird (I know, I know, humor me) when you DFA a guy who can't evem play for your POS team and the Braves want him ? Along with a few other teams expressing interest, this has to make Baird nervous.

13. Cowboy Popup Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:02 AM (#1785717)

So are the Braves going to make him a first baseman? Or are they going to flip him or is this just an organizational depth move? I'm a little confused as to why they need/want him.

14. Passed Ball Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:03 AM (#1785719)

Baird's win/loss record might make him nervous also.

15. rb's team is hopeful for the new year! Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:05 AM (#1785725)

No.

-- MWE

Good stuff.

Platoon with adam?

16. MM1f Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:07 AM (#1785728)

I like Diaz's D more than most but i'm biased....and ive seen him play alot. I think hes merely below average. either way I love them getting him though I don't see the OF as a pressing need - unless a deal involving KJ or Langy is brewing - but im afraid going to the atl means he wont get much PT

17. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:18 AM (#1785742)

I'm one of the other few people that thinks his defense is okay (Mordecai and I live in the same city). He's got decent speed, has greatly improved his routes, and has a strong arm (though I'm not sure how effective it would be in prolonged mlb time - it's strong enough that both KC and TB looked into making him a catcher). Was error prone in Omaha last year, hadn't been previously. Scouts/BA have gone from hating his glove to calling him below average.
In the years I've seen platoon data for him, he has hit much better versus lefties.
Has lousy Christian music played when he comes up to bat.
He doesn't walk - didn't at FSU, hasn't in the minors, won't in the bigs - it is a very legitimate concern that he might expand his strike zone too much to be successful at that level. Very good hustle guy. Hits for average and decent power - his ZiPS for KC was .297/.346/.476.
I'd much rather try him than Mondesi.

18. Backlasher

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:24 AM (#1785749)

Platoon with adam?

I don't know, but I've been expecting the Braves to do something wrt 1b. Cox likes to have a primary pinch hitter, particularly one that can play 1b (and preferrably the corner OF slots). I half expected a trade for a Dave Martinez type and a big casting call in spring training. I presume that this Diaz kid could win that job.

19. Honkie Kong Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:24 AM (#1785750)

The answer to the last bench spot.
I am fairly confident they are going to try and platoon him with Laroche at 1B

20. NTNgod Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:26 AM (#1785751)

unless a deal involving KJ or Langy is brewing

Diaz is a RHB, though, so the pieces could still fit.

21. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 03:42 AM (#1785769)

Diaz tends to treat fly balls like mosquitoes. He swats at them and every so often "squashes" one in his glove.

It's not pretty.................

22. ChuckO Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:50 AM (#1785832)

Regarding first base, Adam LaRoche is Chipper's protege, so I'm guessing that Cox will give LaRoche an opportunity to play first base full time. I think that's a mistake, but it has been my observation that Cox defers to his team leaders. However, to Cox's credit, if LaRoche fails to perform in that role, he will make a change.

23. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 20, 2005 at 01:16 PM (#1786029)

I suspect Diaz is around to PH, backup 1B and platoon in LF. This smells of a precursor deal to me, where one of Kelly Johnson or Ryan Langerhans are packaged up for a closer or starter soon. I could be wrong...

24. Russ Posted: December 20, 2005 at 01:19 PM (#1786034)

This smells of a precursor deal to me, where one of Kelly Johnson or Ryan Langerhans are packaged up for a closer or starter soon.

That Kip Wells for Langherhans deal is right around the corner... [forgeting] David Littlefield.

25. Jhonny be Good Posted: December 20, 2005 at 02:41 PM (#1786088)

Seems like a good move to me. Diaz fills the slot vacated by Franco. Now if the Braves could just manage to trade either KJ or RL for a real outfielder I'd be happy. The Atlanta media keeps raving about these guys but neither one of them really looks like they will hit enough to cut it in left.

26. rb's team is hopeful for the new year! Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:12 PM (#1786244)

At the end of the second article, it says that brian jordan and eddie perez rejected the contracts the braves offered them, thank god.

27. Kyle S Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:22 PM (#1786280)

BB Abbott (Chipper's agent) said that Jordan was being offered arb but would reject it... he had the inside scoop, it appears. Here is what he said the day Marte was traded:

By the way, to clear up some other matters. (1)I am certain that Jordan was offered arbitration with the understanding that he would not accept it (for procedural reasons)...

Jordan will not accept arbitration. If he happens to sign with another team, the Braves will get a 2nd round draft pick, plus an additional compensation pick between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. So, they would get 2 more picks in the Top 100 picks.

I don't see too many teams trying to sign Jordan, sadly.

28. 1k5v3L

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:25 PM (#1786290)

I don't see too many teams trying to cross Jordan, sadly.

29. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:27 PM (#1786297)

I don't see too many teams trying to sign Jordan, sadly.

I think someone would have had the arbitration thing not intervened. Jordan can still help a team as a 4th OF/PH. But I sure wouldn't give up a draft pick for that privilege.

-- MWE

30. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:33 PM (#1786322)

I presume that this Diaz kid could win that job.

Diaz isn't a kid any more; he's going to be 28 in March. I really don't see him as being a full-time player; the Julio Franco role seems about right.

-- MWE

31. JGLB's Quarantine is a Dome of Sensual Delights Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:34 PM (#1786330)

Mike Emeigh Posted: December 20, 2005 at 12:27 PM (#1786297)

I don't see too many teams trying to sign Jordan, sadly.

I think someone would have had the arbitration thing not intervened. Jordan can still help a team as a 4th OF/PH. But I sure wouldn't give up a draft pick for that privilege.

-- MWE

He's old and costs picks? Has Brian Sabean been informed of this?

32. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:36 PM (#1786336)

"That Kip Wells for Langherhans deal is right around the corner... [forgeting] David Littlefield."

I'd actually be OK with this, even though my mom loves Wells.

33. Urban Faber Posted: December 20, 2005 at 04:57 PM (#1786379)

Is this the guy whose name is pronounced "Die-azz"? Cox might use him as a pinch hitter and occasional OF.

34. Mac T Posted: December 20, 2005 at 05:03 PM (#1786398)

I'm just hoping that the Braves take Diaz seriously. They don't normally give long looks to guys who don't come out of their system and don't already have a reputation.

35. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: December 20, 2005 at 05:19 PM (#1786464)

The Royals got Diaz on the cheap, then let him use his career year for the Omaha Royals (same with Guiel last year and Pickering the year before) so we could all enjoy a full season of Terrence Long.

Diaz will certainly have the chance to succeed playing for Cox who does an outstanding job of hiding his players' weaknesses. Diaz could start in left against lefties (possibly also at first occassionally) and make way for Langerhans' glove in the 6th/7th inning when the Braves have the lead. It'll be a reverse of the Klesko/Ice Williams platoon.

36. Russ Posted: December 20, 2005 at 05:29 PM (#1786493)

I'd actually be OK with this, even though my mom loves Wells.

I used to love Wells... then I publicly proclaimed my love for him and he went into the toilet. I only saw a couple of games last year and one of them was the gem against the Phillies where he seemed to be throwing pitches that weighed about 800 pounds. I swear to God he broke like 8 bats in the first 3 or 4 innings.

One of those magical ticking pitching bombs who will go all bats**t once they leave the Pirates, if only temporarily (see Schmidt, Jason; Loiaza, Esteban; Wakefield, Tim; Marte, Damaso; Young, Chris; Lieber, Jon; )

37. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: December 20, 2005 at 09:37 PM (#1787002)

Diaz isn't a kid any more; he's going to be 28 in March. I really don't see him as being a full-time player; the Julio Franco role seems about right.

He is replacing a guy 20 years his senior! He can probably barely shave!

38. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 20, 2005 at 09:47 PM (#1787032)

Diaz was also working on catching again, a position I guess he played once before in the minors or in college, so he could probably be an emergency catcher so Cox doesn't have to carry around three catchers in the post-season anymore.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

MLB.com: Braves acquire outfielder Matt Diaz from Kansas City

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