The Colorado Rockies made the surprising decision on Friday to place veteran catcher Elias Diaz on unconditional release waivers. Although it is not surprising to see the club move on from Diaz, the fact that they were unable to facilitate a trade at the deadline only to release him later is disappointing for fans.
With the Rockies well outside of the postseason, it makes sense that the club will be looking to give more at-bats for the remainder of the year.
Following the unconditional release of Elias Diaz, the Rockies promoted top-catching prospect Drew Romo. That being said, it's likely that Diaz will find himself with a new club sooner rather than later given his MLB track record.
Here's a look at three potential landing spots for Elias Diaz following his release from the Rockies
3 possible landing spots for Elias Diaz after release from the Rockies
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs appear to be the most favorable landing spot for Diaz. While the Cubbies find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture, small adjustments could help them close the gap in the National League. Diaz might be 6'1", but he could be a small upgrade that makes a big difference.
Chicago has received very little production out of their current catchers Christian Bethancourt and Miguel Amaya.
While Diaz would need to bounce back to his 2023 All-Star MVP form to be a true steal, it's possible that the change in scenery could ignite a fire from the pending unrestricted free agent.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best catchers of his generation, J.T. Realmuto, manning the plate for the team. That being said, Realmuto is starting to get up there in age and giving him additional time off heading into the postseason could be massive for the Phils.
Enter Elias Diaz who could provide the NL contenders with an above-average backup catcher as they push for the postseason.
Cincinnati Reds
Much like the Chicago Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. This is why it would make sense for the team to pair Diaz with current slugging catcher Tyler Stephenson, making a potentially lethal combination for the stretch.
The Reds have been hot lately, posting a 7-3 in their last 10 games. Adding an All-Star into that lineup could only be a win for the Reds.