The San Diego Padres signed catcher Elias Diaz to a minor-league contract on Monday, according to sources. Diaz will report to Triple-A El Paso and will provide the Friars with extra catching depth behind Kyle Higashioka and Luis Campusano to close out the 2024 season. Diaz was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and also won the All-Star game MVP before collapsing since this year's All-Star break, causing the Colorado Rockies to put him on outright waivers. The 33-year-old Venezuelan backstop saw his power drop considerably (only five home runs) in 84 games for the Rockies this year, but he did hit .270 (82-for-304) with 36 RBI in 327 trips to the plate. It's unlikely Diaz will see significant playing time in San Diego the rest of the year unless one of Higashioka or Campusano miss time with an injury. You can leave Diaz on the waiver wire for the time being.

The Colorado Rockies released catcher Elias Diaz on Friday after placing him on outright waivers this week. With Diaz out of the picture, the Rockies are expected to call up catching prospect Drew Romo, who was the 35th overall pick in the 2020 draft, to have him active for Friday's series opener at Coors Field against the division-rival San Diego Padres. It's been a quick fall for Diaz, who was named the MVP of last year's All-Star game. The 33-year-old veteran has gone backwards in 2024 with only five home runs in 36 RBI in 304 at-bats, although he's hit a strong .270 (82-for-304) overall. Since the All-Star break, the Venezuelan backstop has gone 11-for-56 (.196) with no homers, four doubles, six RBI and 16 strikeouts in 17 games played. Diaz will likely latch on with another team sooner than later, but for now, the fantasy rug has been pulled out from underneath him.

The Colorado Rockies placed catcher Elias Diaz, who was the MVP of the All-Star game in 2023, on outright waivers on Wednesday, according to major-league sources briefed on the process. The 33-year-old is now available to any team for the approximately $1.5 million remaining on his contract, plus the $50,000 waiver fee. Some rival officials thought the Rockies should have moved Diaz at the July 30 trade deadline, but sources say no team expressed a significant desire to acquire him. Through June 30, Diaz was batting .307 with an .800 OPS, but he hit just .183 in July with a .452 OPS, and he hasn't been much better in August, batting .226 with a .540 OPS. His five homers are down from 14 in 2023. If Diaz clears outright waivers without being claimed, he'd have the right to reject an outright assignment to the minors and could become a free agent. Jacob Stallings essentially has become Colorado's starting catcher for the rest of the year.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is getting a breather on Wednesday for the series finale against the hosting division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Jacob Stallings is doing the catching and will bat cleanup for Colorado versus Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Diaz is hitting a solid .270 (82-for-304) in 84 games this year for the Rockies, but his power has notably been down. After clubbing 14 long balls in 141 games in his first All-Star season in 2023, he has only five this year while driving in 36 in 327 plate appearances. Stallings, meanwhile, is one homer shy of tying his career-high in homers with eight as Colorado's backup. Five of his seven long balls in 2024 have come against left-handers, too, while hitting .300 (18-for-60) against them. Stallings isn't a bad DFS sleeper at the position against Montgomery.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is getting the day off on Sunday afternoon as the Rockies look to clinch a series victory over the Atlanta Braves. The 33-year-old backstop started the first two games of the series and went 2-for-8 with a double and an RBI. As a result, veteran Jacob Stallings will start behind the dish and bat in the seven-hole. Diaz has enjoyed a solid season as he currently sits with a .270 AVG through 82 games. Stallings should be faded in DFS this afternoon as he will face Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach, who has posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.79 WHIP across his past five outings.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (calf) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Diaz is back in the mix after missing two games due to a lingering calf issue. This is good timing with Jacob Stallings probably needing a break after catching 12 innings on Monday. Diaz will bat sixth and serve as the catcher against right-hander Cooper Criswell. Fantasy managers who have Diaz rostered can get him back in their lineups.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (calf) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Over the weekend, Diaz re-injured his calf that cost him time earlier in the season. As a result, Diaz will miss his second straight game on Monday. Jacob Stallings will cover behind the plate and bat seventh versus right-hander Tanner Houck. For now, fantasy managers should consider Diaz as day-to-day but that could change.

Although it's unknown whether the Chicago Cubs will buy, sell or hold at this year's trade deadline, they've been linked with the Colorado Rockies in a possible deal for catcher Elias Diaz, who will be a free agent at season's end. They've also listed to teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners, who all have interest in outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger). If the Cubs stumble out of the All-Star break, don't be surprised if they decide to retool for the 2025 season. Diaz, who was an All-Star for the first time last year, would be a clear offensive upgrade at the position over both Miguel Amaya and backup Tomas Nido. The 33-year-old Venezuelan only has five homers in 65 games in 2024, but he's also hitting a cool .296 (71-for-240) with 30 RBI and 21 runs scored in 259 plate appearances. Leaving hitter-friendly Coors Field wouldn't be the greatest, although the friendly confines of Wrigley Field wouldn't be a terrible landing spot for Diaz, either.

The Colorado Rockies announced on Sunday that they reinstated catcher Elias Diaz (calf) from the 10-day injured list and designated infielder Elehuris Montero for assignment in a corresponding move. Diaz will serve as the designated hitter and will bat fifth for the Rockies for Sunday's series finale against the hosting Chicago White Sox and left-hander Garrett Crochet. It's not the greatest matchup for Diaz's return against Crochet, but the 33-year-old backstop has pretty much been a must-start in single-year fantasy leagues in 2024 with a .303/.352/.439 slash line in 198 at-bats. With Diaz back, Jacob Stallings will fall back into backup duties behind the plate, although he's making another start at catcher on Sunday. Montero heads to the farm after hitting just .206 (46-for-223) with four homers and 28 RBI on the year.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (calf) was doing most baseball activities, manager Bud Black said on Tuesday, but he was "still a little sore." "He's doing everything, but I don't want to say full-on sprint, but he's gaining on the confidence level of running, increasing that intensity every day," Black said. "He's still more than a week away, but we are confident there." During batting practice on June 22, Diaz was launching balls the opposite way over the right-field wall but he's also being careful with an unpredictable calf injury. "He's got a calf strain and it's legit," Black said. "We want to make sure he's really, really healthy when he comes back." For a little while longer, Jacob Stallings will serve as Colorado's primary backstop. Diaz needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats, as he was hitting .303 (60-for-198) with five homers and 28 RBI before his left-calf injury.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (hand) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Diaz will make his return to the lineup after missing each of the last four games due to a hand issue. The 33-year-old was dealing with the issue for weeks before the team decided to shut him down for a few days. Diaz will bat cleanup and cover behind the plate versus right-hander Aaron Brooks. Fantasy managers should make sure to get him back in their lineups.

Colorado Rockies backstop Elias Diaz (hand) remains out of the starting lineup on Saturday. The 33-year-old has been dealing with left-hand soreness and is now sitting in his third straight game. As a result, Hunter Goodman will serve as the catcher for Ty Blach and bat in the eight-hole. Goodman enters Saturday with a .095/.208/.381 slash line and two home runs through his first nine games of the season. The 24-year-old is best to fade in DFS as he will face southpaw Kyle Harrison, who has posted a stellar 1.57 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 21:12 K:BB ratio in his previous four starts.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (hand) will rest in the series finale on Wednesday in San Diego against the Padres after leaving Tuesday's contest in the third inning with left-hand soreness. Diaz had similar issues flare up before, according to manager Bud Black, indicating a longer absence isn't expected. And with a scheduled off day coming on Thursday, Diaz could be back in the lineup for the series opener on Friday in San Francisco against the Giants. In his lone plate appearance on Tuesday, the 33-year-old backstop struck out. With Diaz resting on Wednesday, Jacob Stallings will likely get the start behind the dish against Padres right-hander Michael King. Diaz has been one of the best hitting catchers in baseball so far in 2024, as he's slashing .299/.342/.423 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 137 at-bats.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is getting a day to rest on Wednesday as the team takes on the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in a day game after a night game. Jacob Stallings will be behind the plate to catch left-hander Austin Gomber against Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry. Diaz will head to the bench despite being in the midst of a modest five-game hitting streak. In his first 10 contests for the Rockies in 2024, the 33-year-old backstop is hitting a strong .324 (11-for-34) with a home run, six RBI and four runs scored in 37 trips to the plate with a walk and seven strikeouts. Stallings has gone 3-for-8 in his first 10 plate appearances this year but is a low-upside DFS sleeper at the position and has never faced Henry in his career.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is getting a day of rest on Wednesday as the team takes on the Cubs in Chicago. Jacob Stallings will catch right-hander Cal Quantrill and will hit ninth in the batting order as he faces Cubs left-hander Luke Little. Diaz could probably use a day off after starting the 2024 campaign 3-for-17 (.176) with a solo home run, three runs scored and three strikeouts in 18 plate appearances in his first five games of the year. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned yet after the 33-year-old backstop hit .267 with 14 home runs and 72 RBI in 2023 to make his first All-Star team. Stallings has never faced Little in his career and should probably be passed over when bargain shopping at the catcher position in DFS.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is not in the club's starting lineup for Wednesday afternoon's contest against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon. It's not a surprise to see the All-Star backstop get the afternoon off following a night contest on Tuesday in which he logged a trio of singles and an RBI in the Rockies' 6-4 triumph over the Cubs. The 32-year-old made the All-Star team on the back of a .277 average and .761 OPS in the season's first half but Diaz has hit .263 with a .702 OPS since the All-Star break. Austin Wynns will take over the behind the plate and hit ninth against Taillon Wednesday in Denver.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is taking the day off on Wednesday with the team facing the Arizona Diamondbacks. Austin Wynns will do the catching instead and bat ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Zach Davies. This will be Diaz's first day off since Aug. 22. The 32-year-old All-Star backstop is batting .211 (4-for-19) with one double, two RBI, seven strikeouts and two runs scored in five games (four starts) to begin the month of September. In his fourth year in Colorado in 2023, Diaz is slashing .268/.315/.415 with 13 home runs, 22 doubles, a triple, 64 RBI and 41 runs scored in a career-high 123 games played. Wynns should be avoided in DFS. He's gone 18-for-94 (.191) this year with only one round-tripper.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is out of Saturday's lineup against the Miami Marlins. It appears to be a maintenance day for the 32-year-old. Austin Wynns hits ninth and takes over behind the plate to catch right-hander Chase Anderson for this one. Diaz, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP, went deep on Friday night to end an 18-game homerless slump, going a brutal 8-for-55 over this skid. Fantasy managers should expect the backstop to return to action for Sunday's series finale in Miami. Diaz has served as a top-10 fantasy catcher in roto leagues this year, batting .268 with 10 big flies, 46 RBI, and 28 runs scored in 298 at-bats.

Colorado Rockies All-Star catcher Elias Diaz will begin Sunday's contest against Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees on the bench. The 32-year-old has been a solid source of offense from behind the plate, batting .271 with nine homers, 27 runs, and 45 RBI over 82 games. Austin Wynns will take care of the catching duties instead and bat ninth. The fifth-year player is not much of a threat with the bat and is slashing just .207/.254/.293 this season across 25 games. There are much better backstop options on the waiver wire.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz was voted Tuesday's All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in a 3-2 win over the American League team. Diaz went 1-for-2 with a go-ahead two-run home run and a strikeout. His big at-bat came in the eighth inning down by a run with no outs and the tying run on second. Facing Felix Bautista, he launched a splitter into the left-field seats to put the National League team ahead 3-2, which would be the final score. The 32-year-old was the only Rockies All-Star representative and became the first Rockies player to win All-Star MVP honors. Diaz has had a solid offensive season, slashing .277/.328/.435 with nine HR and 45 RBI. He should continue to be a viable fantasy option in the second half with the benefit of hitting in Coors Field.